[Lexicog] Irony of the Penthouse

[bolstar1]

     This is another irony-post, illustrating both the degree of 
change in the connotation & denotation of a term (in four-hundred 
years), and in the need to use a modernized version of Shakespeare 
for students ¡V particularly secondary students. 
     Undoubtedly this ¡¥modernization issue¡¦ is a lexical/linguistic 
issue needing addressing in all languages, at all times. It could be 
thought of as a ¡¥practical-purity point of contention.¡¦ 
     In order to glean Shakespeare¡¦s earthy humor & irony (or any 
historical author¡¦s humor & irony), semantics must takes precedence 
over the rhyme/rhythm/¡¨music¡¨ of a language. Emotive arguments for 
the value of ¡§music¡¨ notwithstanding, our irony, for the sake of 
illustration, attends the lexical semantic shift in a term, but the 
irony in Shakespeare¡¦s lines itself (tending towards the bawdy) 
attended the sarcasm of Borachio and his figurative language toward 
Conrade (Much Ado About Nothing 3.3.102-04) 
           
          Stand thee close then under this penthouse, 
          For it drizzles rain, and I will, like a true 
          A true drunkard, utter all to thee.

Borachio thought well enough of Conrade to share his penthouse 
(luxury flat) facilities with him, but knowing the meaning of 
Elizabethan ¡¥penthouse¡¦ we have a different view of his altruistic 
offer. It meant outside toilet (out-house), or lean-to, or shed; 
hence, Borachio was offering to pass on his advice with a profusion 
of piss. What a difference four-hundred years can make in a word, and 
bladder fodder for a lexical pragmatist. This is a good point to 
remember when people 

penthouse***  from Middle English 'pentis' (a shortening of Old 
French ¡¥apentis' = outhouse or shelter built onto the side of a house 
with sloping roof, from late Latin 'appendicium' (appendage) -- from 
Latin 'appendere' = "hang on" (indicative, not imperative mood); 
ƒÞ	the change in the form in the 16th century was from 
French ¡¥pente' = "slope" & "house"; penthouse* shed, lean-to  (Signet)

Scott Nelson






 
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