{"version": "1.0", "type": "rich", "title": "So how do places that call flashlights \"torches\" specify when they're talking about pitchforks-and- torches?", "author_name": "kontextmaschine", "author_url": "https://kontextmaschine.com", "provider_name": "kontextmaschine", "provider_url": "https://kontextmaschine.com", "url": "https://kontextmaschine.com/post/693004753642389504/", "html": "

jambeast:

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kontextmaschine:

So how do places that call flashlights \u201ctorches\u201d specify when they\u2019re talking about pitchforks-and- torches?

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\"image\"

We wouldn\u2019t specify, since context clues is good enough. We don\u2019t -use- medieval torches in the modern day, so if it\u2019s in the modern day, we just assume modern torches.

If someone said\u00a0\u201cthere\u2019s an angry mob with torches and pitchforks\u201d, we\u2019d know to imagine (non-literally since it\u2019s mostly just an expression) medieval torches.\u00a0

If someone described a group of people working together to search for a missing person at night and described them as carrying torches, we\u2019d assume that, if it\u2019s the modern day, they\u2019re using modern torches.

If you described all that, and also described or implied that this was happening in medieval times, we\u2019d assume medieval torches.

(Reblogging because tumblr seems to be eating my comments)

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