A reader (Gordon) writes to ask why the current protests on the streets of American cities are using ‘no king’ as their slogan.
I suppose the answer is that America is a republic that was born out of rebellion against a king (England’s King George III) and these protestors are claiming that their current president (Donald Trump) is no longer behaving like an elected president, but like a king.
The word ‘king’ has been part of the English language for as long as there has been an English language.
It goes back to the days of Old English, more than a thousand years ago.
It is a common Germanic word (with similar or related words in many other Germanic languages—Old Dutch, Old High German, Old Icelandic and many others).
The original meaning of the Germanic word is frequently assumed to be ‘descendant of a (royal) family’.
Such an emphasis on genealogical descent would fit in with the practice of royal succession in Anglo-Saxon England, where royal families were traditionally reputed to descend from Germanic gods, and successors to kings were chosen from close family members.
However, while there is evidence for such a concept of kingship in other older Germanic contexts, an alternative form of early Germanic kingship based on military leadership and acclamation was also around.
Thus, it is alternatively possible that the word originally had a somewhat wider sense, such as ‘leader of a kinship group’.
When America was born, in the Independence War of 1776 the only model the founders had for their new constitution was the English one—which meant: a constitutional (but still powerful) king, with balancing powers in parliament and the courts.
And that model is reflected in the American constitution they drafted—which has a president who is separate from the parliament (the Congress) and the courts, and is limited by the powers of those institutions, but who (unlike Westminster democracies) is a centre of power in himself.
When I was doing Political Science at university were told that the American president amounted to being ‘an elected king’ (both head of government and head of state—roles that are separated under the Westminster system).
So, Trump (like every other president) is an ‘elected king.’
And he will cease to be the elected king when his term in office expires.
Which makes the protestors’ slogan of ‘no king’ look a bit silly.
Important notice: On Wednesday June 18 I am scheduled to have major surgery—a total knee replacement (of my right knee). That means that I will have to hit the “pause button” on the website (Ozwords.com.au) and on the daily newsletter (and on my radio and TV work) until I am out of hospital and back at my keyboard. My hope is that this will only be a matter of days. Thank you for your patience.
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BY THE WAY...
The latest edition of Quadrant magazine is now in the newsagents -- including my article on 'Recognizing Racism".
The May-June issue of Australian Geographic is out now (with the tree frog on the cover) -- inside are my two small columns on 'Placenames' and 'Ozwords'.
If you'd like to see my A-Z list of Aussie slang, you'll find it here in the Australian Geographic website -- A-Z list of Aussie slang. Here’s the link: The A-Z of Aussie slang - Australian Geographic
The liveliest part of this website is usually the Q and A page -- be sure to check it out from time to time.
BOOKS:
* My latest book is -- "Defending the Gospel" (second, fully revised, edition). You can find it here: Defending the Gospel – matthiasmedia.com.au
* If you're looking for my recent book "Flash Jim" you'll find it here -- Flash Jim, The astonis
hing story of the convict fraudster who wrote Australia's first dictionary by Kel Richards | 9781460759769 | Booktopia
* You can find all Kel's books currently in print here -- Booktopia Search Results for 'kel richards'. We sell books, hardback, paperback, audio, CDs.
* And also here -- Amazon.com.au : Kel Richards
* And you'll find more here -- Search: 4 results found for "Kel Richards" – matthiasmedia.com.au
* Many of Kel's out of print books can be found at ABE Books -- Kel Richards - AbeBooks explaining words explain the term
