Go on, what is the connection between those three things?
Think a bit....
OK - they are all names that were invented to specifically refer to the 'default' word that we used to use before a particular technical development occurred. So before 'Satellite television' came along 'Terrestrial television' was just called 'television' (because it was pretty much all terrestrial and nobody had thought this was a fact worth mentioning). And before 'cordless phones' were invented a 'corded phone' was just called a 'phone'
I'm sure there must be a technical term for this, but in it's absence I would call it the 'terrestrial television syndrome'. I would be very glad to collect other examples of the phenomenon - and even gladder to receive people's predictions for new words that will emerge in this way.
For example, if 'designer babies' become the new norm, then what do you call the other kind?
"Oh, the nose? Yes, Charlie was a ***** baby".
What term is going to fill that gap? Artisan baby? off-the-peg baby?
But what does "terrestrial" television signify?
ReplyDeleteI thought it was er, aerial? ;)
Surely a satellite-fed TV is just as terrestrial?
Can I predict the death of "digital native"? Even if it's just wishful thinking ... oh, and "digital immigrant" too. Or are older people "automatic washing machine natives" or "central heating natives" etc?
ReplyDeleteAren't some designer babies hand-made?
ReplyDeleteCan't possibly comment on hand-made designer babies but have had a suggestion made of two other examples of 'terrestrial television syndrome' from another correspondent: These two rather depend on the food that was available in Northern England in the 1960s and 1970s.
ReplyDeleteAt that time it was taken as read that the only coffee you could buy would be powdered and that the only spaghetti you could buy would be in tomato sauce in a tin.
It is only since the advent of ground coffee and long, rigid, uncooked spaghetti in this region that it has become necessary to refer to 'instant coffee' and 'tinned spaghetti' So both of these, for reasons of availability rather than innovation, are examples of 'terrestrial television syndrome'