tony cooper <> wrote:
> On Sat, 3 Sep 2011 05:09:06 +0200, Wolfgang Weisselberg
>>OK, so we agree that it's pretty unlikely someone with
>>minimum wage has any say in the corporate structure ("her
>>power to change things") and we can probably agree that the
>>worker ("her position") is easily replaced by another one.
>>So her position within the company is by definition "lowly".
>>Or "the lowest employee in the whole food chain".
> No, "lowly", in this context,
In *which* context exactly?
> is a social description and not an
> economic description.
social, yes, within the power structure of the company.
> No one describes employees in the lower income
> bracket as "lowly" unless it's the arrogant outburst of a social snob.
'lower income bracket' --- Bull. Minimum wage isn't 'lower
income bracket'. Just as "dead" isn't 'not feeling so well'.
That's just euphemisms to make you not feel so bad by hiding
the realities of minimum wage.
And I challenge your 'no one'. But let's take the test:
what's the opposite of lowly? Exalted? Illustrious?
Lordly? Aristocratic? Lofty? Noble? Let's try:
- an exalted minimum wage employee
- an illustrious minimum wage employee
- a lordly minimum wage employee
- an aristocratic minimum wage employee
- a lofty minimum wage employee
- a noble minimum wage employee
Hmm. You can replace "minimum wage employee" with "supermarket
cashier", if you like ...
Well, the result is, except for lordly it doesn't really work,
and lordly would indicate someone being pompous without substance.
(Ok, noble. Prince Harry as a minimum wage employee. Sure.)
So, yes, lowly does fit. Especially in regard to a corporate
power structure.
> I'll remind you of your admonition to John Turco in another post:
> "Butchering other languages is not allowed unless you do speak them
> fluently first." In this case, it is idiomatic usage, but the concept
> is the same.
Oh, maybe I am wrong. Let's see:
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dict.../british/lowly
low in position and importance, or not respected
Hmmm, yes, a minimum wage employee is in a low position in
the company, is of low importance, and not always respected.
http://dictionary.reverso.net/english-definition/lowly
humble or low in position, rank, status, etc.
http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/lowly
low in rank, importance, or social class
Obviously the social class is just one of several possible
meanings.
I do think I can show my interpretation is not wrong, so I do
understand idiomatic English and am allowed to butcher it.
-Wolfgang
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