\nI still remember the 70s, and the fact that the saying “That’s a lot to unpack” was never used then. In fact, I can’t recall it being used until recently (meaning perhaps the past five to ten years).\n<\/p>\n
\nWhile new, its meaning is obvious. Yet, “That’s a lot to unpack” interests me because it represents a trend in the English language I’ve been noticing since perhaps the 90s: New, clever sayings are invented to explain complicated situations that, before, were much harder to communicate. When they fit, they make explanation much easier.<\/p>\n
\nAs I’ve mentioned, these new sayings, such as “That’s a lot to unpack,” typically need no, or else almost-no, explanation. “Safety buzz” is another one, and even “frenemy.” We all understand these concepts, and that they’ve always existed – yet, back in the 70s, they were much more difficult to articulate.<\/p>\n
\nI think your typical 14-year-old, today, is much more articulate about psychological and “people” issues than back in the 70s. This doesn’t mean they understand<\/em> more; nonetheless, they seem<\/em> to, partly because of their access to these ready-made constructs that didn’t exist then. In other words, people may not be more clever, but the English language is a superior toolkit now.<\/p>\n Source:<\/p>\n grammarist.com<\/a><\/p>\nJack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane,<\/a> Campbell River, BC.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Self-tutoring about sayings in English: the tutor mentions a new one. I still remember the 70s, and the fact that the saying “That’s a lot to unpack” was never used then. In fact, I can’t recall it being used until …<\/p>\n