The Great (American?) Generation Shift

[Lynne Murphy]

>Now I note that we have orphan terms such as "Gramps" and "Granny". With
>the current tendency to postpone parenthood, it is becoming less likely
>that one will have much contact with great-grandparents, so the shift "up
>one generation" need not be maintained. Almost every child would like to be
>older, so I propose that "Gramps" and "Granny" be used for
>addressing the kids.
>
>-- Doug Wilson


Except that while childbearing happens at later ages, people are
living longer now too.  So even if mothers give birth at 40, you
could have a 120 year old great grandparent.  I expect you'll find a
reason to call them 'son' and 'daughter'.

(I have to say that the intuition that 'Nana' sounds younger doesn't
hold for me.  It makes me think of someone small and wrinkly who no
longer has any teeth and has to gum overripe bananas.  But I'll
accept that I'm probably alone in having this connotation...)

L.


--
M. Lynne Murphy
Lecturer in Linguistics
School of Cognitive and Computing Sciences
University of Sussex
Brighton BN1 3AN    UK
phone:  +44(0)1273-678844
fax:    +44(0)1273-671320