Monday 3 December 2012

Use of the word , 'Vintage' ! My Monday protest!! ;-)




What does the word 'vintage ' mean to you?

I ask... because this has irritated me for ages ...and ages!

Yes, really!

Incorrect use of the word ' vintage ' really annoys me!;-)

Firstly, let's look at the origin of the word ,'vintage'.

Did you know that the word "vintage" is a combination of the Latin of vinum, or "wine,"

and demere, or "to take off"?

 A "vintage" was originally the yield of a season's harvest at a vineyard.

  • Today in wine-making, "vintage" means the process of picking grapes
     for the purpose of producing a finished wine product.
     A bottle of wine's "vintage" is the year in which the grapes that
     produced it were originally harvested.

    And now, moving on...

Vintage is a word that can have a variety of meanings.
 Primarily it means, ' Of old, recognized and enduring interest, importance or quality."
 Either as a noun or as an adjective it is usually associated with the quality of aging, enduring or improving over time (a bit like some of us!!)


During the nineteenth century, the word "vintage" began to be used to signify  something being old, 
old-fashioned, classical, or "from another time."
 Thus, objects other than wine began to be referred to as "vintage,"
This  included furniture, books, cars, clothing, musical instruments etc



    • Nowadays , "vintage" is generally used as a euphemism for "old" or "old-fashioned." 
      However, in antiquing, an item is considered "vintage" if it was manufactured between 1830 and 1930. In car collecting, a vintage car is one made between 1919 and 1930.

      And so...all that considered...why are people using the word 
      " vintage" in the name of their products, shops, organised fairs etc...when, in truth
       what you get is modern or reproduced copies which  simply is,  'pretend' and there
      isn't a true vintage item in sight?!!

      That's what really gets my goat!!;-

      It seems to me that everyone wants to jump on the "vintage" band wagon yet they haven't taken the time to find out exactly what is meant by the word  "vintage".

      The phrase, ' trades description ' springs to mind!!

      And so...I say to all those people who are snitching the word, 'vintage'

      and mis- labelling whatever they have to offer....go and find your own word

      to describe your modern 'copies' but leave the word ''vintage''

      well alone!! 


      What do you think?



      :-)