Great news to hear of the first eggs being laid at the Swannery - a sure sign that spring has arrived.
Later, no doubt, we will be egged on to visit the Swannery by means of numerous roadside advertisements.
But this year can we be spared that infantile wording, “Come and visit the baby swans”?
As far as I am aware young swans are referred to as cygnets. Why not say so?
I am concerned that reducing such statements to the lowest common denominator is slowly but surely eroding the beauty that is the English language and is partly to blame for the woeful state of literacy in this country. If young children (or adults) do not know the word ‘cygnet’ then why miss an opportunity to broaden their language skills.
Bill Knight
Overcombe Court
Weymouth
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