Just a couple of weeks back - following a book launch we had for Earl Ferrers' book Whatever Next - I wrote a blog about how we should see a renaissance of old-school words. Today a piece appeared in the Telegraph's Mandrake Diary detailing something Sir Donald Sinden had said at our party:
With the authority that comes from having one of this country’s best-known voices, Sir Donald Sinden hopes to inspire a revival in spoken English.
“We should fight for our language,” he says at the launch of Whatever Next? Reminiscences of a journey through life, by Earl Ferrers. “It is the most beautiful language in the world and we have the largest vocabulary.”
Television is not, alas, helping. “Have you noticed presenters always underlining the word its, for instance. Why? People pronounce ree-search. There is no such word.”
The actor, 87, adds: “We musn’t allow the English language to change. We risk losing the niceties.”
So two weeks ago Sir Donald and I had exactly the same thought within hours of one another. Great minds and all that. Words like flibbertigibbet, piffle, gadzooks - oh how I - nay, we - love them! I also love when someone who must be obeyed backs up one of my arguments. Makes me feel all authoritative, like.
My favourite recounted memory of our brush with Sir Donald Sinden was one of Grant's. Grant approached him and said 'you're Sir Donald Sinden, nice to meet you' to which Sir Donald replied 'by Christ I am!'
He could have gone with a 'by gum!' but who am I to question the master?
Lord Ferrers' book has classics aplenty and is available now. What are your favourite words-that-we-don't-use-anymore-but-absolutely-should?