Birds of a feather...

Ratna Raman

DELIGHTFUL sites can be accessed on Facebook by people fascinated by birdlife. As a member of a ‘birding group’ (birdwatchers), one has the privilege of viewing birds with colourful plumage, extraordinary tail feathers, or unusual shades of blue that could never have been imagined. Sometimes, large birds in flight or at rest have been photographed. Often, enchanting close-ups of unusual birds are posted, and net surfing enables a great process of discovery and learning about avian friends. The most riveting photographs are of the young ones of birds, or videos and more  rare live streaming that allows you to observe little beaks poking out of eggs and then the emerging ‘hatchling’ (young of birds, amphibians or reptiles that emerge from eggs) that is  fed constantly by anxious parent-bird. 

Often there are photographs of ‘juveniles’ in the bird species. The word reminded me of how the species are closely interlinked, because the young ones of birds, animals and humans are all described as ‘juveniles’. The juvenile bird is a baby bird that grows rapidly, towards the next stage, when it grows its feathers and trains to ‘fledge’ (fly). Juveniles in the bird kingdom graduate to fledglings and once they have mastered flying, join the adult bird ranks.

The human species is more privileged than the birds because it gets a much longer window to learn about the world from the moment it is a neonate (newborn, from natal; birth). The neonate, the infant, the toddler, can all be termed babies. Young children that can move around and play are referred to as kids. Once they grow out of babyhood, young ones of humans remain in parental care, and until the age of full legal responsibility, are referred to as minors.

 ‘Minor’ (noun) can also indicate a key, scale or an interval in music.  ‘Minor’ (adjective) is also the antonym of major, indicating something small or of less significance, as in “The dress required minor alterations”. “Mahesh majored (verb) in history and  minored (verb) in philosophy at the university.” Minoring is a subsidiary course of study. 

‘Juvenile’ has been around in the English language since the 17th century (from Latin ‘juvenis’; ‘juvenilis’, young person). It has now taken on different connotations, when used in the context of human behaviour. Juvenile behaviour refers to childish behaviour that can be annoying and difficult to control.

A minor indulging in crime can be accused of a juvenile offence. Continued offences will lead to a spurt in crime. Juvenile crime is a poor indicator of social happiness matrix and very often it is hostile environments that are responsible for the rise of juvenile offenders.

‘Delinquency’ (adj) in an adolescent or a minor is usually associated with negligence. ‘Delinquents’ (n, from Latin delinquent; offending) describe persons who are offenders, criminals or culprits. A juvenile delinquent is a legal term describing a minor who is a lawbreaker. Language’s extensive vocabulary enables humans to frame laws that can evaluate a wide spectrum of behaviour.