|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
|
 Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 2:59 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| johnslat wrote: |
Dear 007,
"Her majesty the Queen is still the Queen . . ."
Have you encountered the word "figurehead" before?
Regards,
John |
Well, I not only encountered the word "figurehead", I have seen it in one of those old Viking ships in Scotland (I guess Uncle Scott can confirm this  ).
Well, John, politically speaking, the "firgurehead" may sometimes be exploited to be used to bypass some parliamentary rules!
"The tendency of this word to drift, like many words that are in a strong process of changed meanings, into the pejorative is beginning to make it unsuitable to apply to a head of state with limited constitutional authority, such that its use may become increasingly inappropriate in referring to monarchs and presidents in parliamentary systems."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figurehead |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
With Malice Toward None
Joined: 20 Oct 2009
Posts: 250
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 10:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
Quote 007: "The tendency of this word to drift, like many words that are in a strong process of changed meanings, into the pejorative ..
That's just discussing semantics. What about the position itself, of actual figureheads? Not on the pejorative? Definitely, yes.
Figureheads continue to exist because (demacratic) nations (forget about others) have this fear that the checks and balances in the system aren't enough and won't work in strife. Also for those ceremonial purposes, to showcase. Most figureheads are severe cases of senile dementia, Parkinson's, etc, so much so that they would sleep through an entire invasion and wake up under a new Constitution, or perhaps, staring into the barrel of a gun. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
