Thursday 23 December 2010

Words and Phrases and Religious Images

The English language is rich. Its store of words is huge. Why then is it necessary to describe anything that is faintly well-known as 'iconic'? The zebra crossing outside the Abbey Road studio in London, to pick a recent example, is not iconic. It is famous. Apparently it is now Grade 2 listed. But it is still just a zebra crossing that once appeared on a record cover. The Battersea Power Station is not iconic either. It is a landmark. It is a striking building. It is very memorable. That doesn't make it iconic.

This is iconic - in fact, it's an icon. Funny that.

(And while were on the subject, there are some really iconic phrases here.)

2 comments:

  1. If you really want to be seriously dispirited, then I recommend this link:

    http://www.nationaltrustqld.org/qldicons.htm

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  2. If everyone in your family is receiving gifts as cheering as that, there is going to be weeping and gnashing of teeth chez vous this year, I think. But thank you (she said, remembering her mannners and choking back a sob of despair.)

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