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Document : 1526
Title    : A Word in George Brown’s Ear
Author(s): Prof Christian Kay

Copyright holder(s): Prof Christian Kay

Text

Dear Mr. Brown, while we admire
Your fight against inflation,
We fear that you will fail unless
You change your appellation.

Today we do not talk of growth,
Increase, or augmentation.
We have a fine new polyword:
You know it – escalation.

It has a rich Johnsonian ring,
An Eastern connotation,
Its use would dignify and soothe
Financial desperation.

So do not speak of rising costs,
Just say they’re escalators – 
This is an age that calls its spades
Terrestrial elevators.


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Information about document and author:

Text
Text audience
Adults (18+): Audience size: N/A

Text details
Method of composition: Handwritten
Year of composition: 1965
Word count: 80

Text type
Poem/song/ballad: 

Author
Author details
Author id: 606
Title: Prof
Forenames: Christian
Surname: Kay
Gender: Female
Decade of birth: 1940
Educational attainment: University
Age left school: 18
Upbringing/religious beliefs: Protestantism
Occupation: Academic
Place of birth: Edinburgh
Region of birth: Midlothian
Birthplace CSD dialect area: midLoth
Country of birth: Scotland
Place of residence: Glasgow
Region of residence: Glasgow
Residence CSD dialect area: Gsw
Country of residence: Scotland
Father's place of birth: Leith
Father's region of birth: Midlothian
Father's birthplace CSD dialect area: midLoth
Father's country of birth: Scotland
Mother's place of birth: Edinburgh
Mother's region of birth: Midlothian
Mother's birthplace CSD dialect area: midLoth
Mother's country of birth: Scotland

Languages:
Language: English
Speak: Yes
Read: Yes
Write: Yes
Understand: Yes
Circumstances: All
Language: Scots
Speak: No
Read: Yes
Write: No
Understand: Yes
Circumstances: Work