The myth that the golden years are the best years is rooted in the concept of the Golden Age

An interview with
Howard Richler

Dr. Frank As a word-smith, you are interested in the idiosyncrasies of the English language. Can you tell us about some of the euphemisms that are used in connection with words such as aging, senior, zoomer and Third Ager?

Howard Richler Hugh Rawson in his Dictionary of Euphemisms and Other Doubletalk says that the “myth that the golden years are the best years is rooted in the concept of the Golden Age as the first and best of the ages of the world. The Golden Age was supposed to be a time of innocence and happiness, when truth and justice prevailed. Spears and swords had not yet been invented, perpetual spring reigned, and the rivers flowed with milk and wine. Thus, the euphemism completes a metaphorical circle, returning the oldster to the infancy of the species.”

The term “senior citizen” appears to have been coined as a euphemism for “old person” during a 1938 American political campaign. Eventually, the term was shortened to “senior,” a term that until then was used strictly to refer to those in a graduating class. Increasingly, the word “senior” is being referenced dysphemistically. The term “senior moment” is being used increasingly to describe a temporary loss of memory or attention caused by advancing old age. If the sense of the word “senior” declines further, it will have to replaced by fresher euphemisms to describe old age.

Personally, I prefer the designation “vantage years” proposed by authors Laurie Gottlieb & Deanna Rosenswig in Dreams Have No Expiry Date. Of course, due to the slings and arrows that time casts at us, the aging years are not an advantage to everyone.

Dr. Frank In one of your articles on aging, you quote your cousin, Mordecai Richler who said that "it's not aging we fear; but the inevitable alternative..." Can you comment on that?

Howard Richler I think it was best summed up by Woody Allen who said "It's not that I'm afraid to die. I just don’t want to be there when it happens."

Dr. Fred The meanings of words evolve with time, even though the dictionary definitions remain the same. This is very relevant to midlifers and beyond, where words like "retirement, crisis, middle age, old," for example, are taking on new meanings, which can provide different ways for midlifers to relate to their lives. What is your view on this matter?

Howard Richler I think it is important to realize that language is in a constant state of flux and meanings are always changing. What is a euphemism in one era can very quickly turn dysphemistic. A good example is the term “retarded.” It acquired a euphemistic meaning in the 50s to replace the word “idiot.” Clearly, “retarded” has not been used euphemistically for several decades. Vis-a-vis language, it is also important to remember that we all have our own idiolect and words that are not offensive to you may be offensive to someone else, e.g, “golden age” for my late mother-in-law.

Dr. Frank As a Third Ager yourself, you continue to write books and articles. What can "older" people do to keep their minds mentally fit?

Howard Richler The short answer is that they can buy my books. The longer answer is to always try to expand your mind and learn new skills, such as taking courses, learning to play a musical instrument or even trying to use their “bad” hand as often as possible. As it happens, I am in the finishing process of my book Brain Dancing (Guaranteed to Ward Off Dementia) where I have designed word puzzles, that I believe help keep the mind fluid.

Dr. Frank In one of our conversations, you mentioned you recently read Dreams Have No Expiry Date : Women in Charge of Their Futures by Gottlieb and Rosenwig. Why is the book relevant for midlifers and beyond and particularly women?

Howard Richler Because later life offers the opportunity to pursue dreams that were not financially or life-cycle attainable when one was younger. Obviously, this is truer for women until science designs a way for a man to deliver a baby. Ouch!

Dr. Fred Tell us about your work writing for the Senior Times. What issues and topics do you focus on?

Howard Richler I do not try to limit my columns to themes that I feel are suitable for seniors. On the contrary, I find that people over the age of fifty enjoy discussions on language to a much greater extent than younger people. I feel that my being in the chronological range of Senior Times readers facilitates the process of empathy with my readers.

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