[nukkad] Hijacked words

[Harshal Chhaya <>]

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All languages evolve so it is inevitable that words change their 
meaning over time. But some words are co-opted by groups and
organizations and take on completely different meanings. So different
that using or hearing them in their original context seems odd. A
classic example is 'gay'. When I was a kid, I was often happy
and gay. So were my friends. But if I claim to be gay now, I am
sure I would get sidelong glances. And a whack from my wife. 
'Pansy' is another word. Used to be a flower, now an insult.

The reason all this came up was because of 'taleban'. I was listening
to a children's story on the radio during an Urdu program and the
hostess said: 'woh us school kaa taleban thaa'. It took me a second
to realise that the word was being used in its original sense where
it means 'student'. 'Taleban' has acquired so many connotations over 
the past couple of years (and of course in the past month) that its 
original usage has been obscured. I don't think it could ever be used 
in its original sense without the listener associating it with Afghanistan.

Are there other such words that you have come across?

- 'shal


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