People's vocabulary skills certainly are lacking

[P&R Fan]

We went to a track meet today in a small town about 45 minutes away to watch my daughter run. She is a Senior and this is her last meet. It was raining most of the day. We were prepared. Went to the car and got my bumbershoot. There were plenty of other people who had their own bumbershoots. When I mentioned that to them, nobody knew what I was talking about.
People just have no vocabulary skills.
Jim

 

[Marshwheeling]

Indubitably.

 

[boatme99]

Just not too many Anglophiles in Iowa, eh?

 

[boatme99]

Shoulda threatened them with your perambulator. That'll teach 'em.

 

[Ματθιας]

I have no idea what a bumbershoot is. I've never heard of it. Must be a regional thing.

Do you know what a illlegeracy is without googling it? Not illiterate, but illegerate. Not knowing that word, does that mean a lack of vocabulary skills?

 

[rwsmith]

Now this...

Now this is SERIOUS!!!


Truthfully when I talk to most young people they have no idea what I'm talking about, any more than I can understand them and their 'street talk'.

I have some rather embarrassing stories where I was misinterpreted for using common terms that WERE common in my trade and even in standard usage. Trying to describe something and using these terms ends the conversation right there with somebody being offended.

I was going to make a list sing the misinterpreted terms without actually using the words, but in spite of this being ONLY about legitimate terms, I'm afraid that my intentions may be misinterpreted and that I might get dinged.....or worse.

 

[P&R Fan]

These weren't kids.
First was a Woman who told me she was 63. Next was a Woman who is in her early 50s. I teased he and told her I'm sure her Dad, who is a friend of mine, would know. Saw him later. He is a retired Pastor, probably almost 80. He also had no idea what a bumbershoot is.
I was so disappointed.
Jim

 

[Rustyt1953]

I have two along with a shillelagh that I keep in the boot of my car. Ta ta, off to the loo.

 

[pineappleshooter]

Thank god you didn't put a *** in your mouth!

 

[BC38]

Bumbershoot isn't regional at all. The OP is from NE Iowa, and every September (when the rainy season starts) they hold a music and food festival called Bumbershoot in SEATTLE.

Seattle is about as far from NE Iowa as anyplace in the continental US can be. Not even close to the same region.

Like the OP said, its a vocabulary issue. It seems that the majority of people these days hardly know enough words to express themselves without resorting to profanity. Over the last 50 years the boob tube has dumbed-down our society's language skills to the lowest common denominator.

 

[LVSteve]

It's not regional, just very dated according to the Interwebz. I'm excused for not knowing until I looked it up as I come from the UK.

 

[ATF]

I had to look this up I admit.
P&R you've been watching too much Chitty Chitty Bang Bang:

Me ol’ bam-boo, me ol’ bam-boo
You'd better never bother with me ol’ bam-boo
You can have me hat or me bumbershoot
But you'd better never bother with me ol’ bam-boo

 

[soFlaNative]

heheheheh.....
Someone said bum....

 

[Alpo]

It's not regional, just very dated according to the Interwebz. I'm excused for not knowing until I looked it up as I come from the UK.

That can't be an excuse.

From the "anglophile" comment, and the "shillelagh in my boot/off to the loo" comment, and the "perambulator" and the "***", it appears that most here think it to be a British term, and if anyone knows what it is, it should be you.

Personally, I thought y'all called 'em a brolly, but what do I know.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I was going to make a list sing the misinterpreted terms without actually using the words, but in spite of this being ONLY about legitimate terms, I'm afraid that my intentions may be misinterpreted and that I might get dinged.....or worse.

I know what you mean. When I was a child in NC, I may have been the only kid in my class who called Brazil nuts by their right name. Of course, that was a few years ago.

 

[keith44spl]

Wells,
Jest what would Mary Poppins done without one....Gees.

 

[okiegtrider]

Personally, I thought y'all called 'em a brolly, but what do I know.

And being a racing fan, I much enjoy the brolly girls.

 

[Ματθιας]

I live in the SW, in a desert. I was raised there/here. It doesn't rain much so there's no need for rain gear. Nor have I spent much time where it rains a lot. I've never heard of the word. I've never read it in a book, never heard anybody say it. Ever.

So, does anybody know what the "illegerate" means? If not, then vocabulary skill must be lacking, apparently.

 

[austinjeane]

Thank god you didn't put a *** in your mouth!

That is so politically incorrect and laugh out loud funny at the same time!

 

[Sconnie]

These weren't kids.
First was a Woman who told me she was 63. Next was a Woman who is in her early 50s. I teased he and told her I'm sure her Dad, who is a friend of mine, would know. Saw him later. He is a retired Pastor, probably almost 80. He also had no idea what a bumbershoot is.
I was so disappointed.
Jim

Now see, there is the problem. They are old enough that they don't automatically pull out their smart phone and Google it...

Although I agree it is odd that those vintages would not know that term. Perhaps they are from Rio Linda?