telling time

Originating from the Celtic words clagan and clocca, meaning bell, clocks are time-telling devices. Indeed, this week, standing on the brink of a new year, we focus on the issue of time.

As busy as our lives have become, clocks are indispensable items. Everyone owns a clock at home. Clocks have traditionally been silent instruments. However, in general usage today, a 'clock' refers to any device for measuring and displaying the time which, unlike a watch, is not worn by a person.

The clock is one of the oldest human inventions, meeting the need to consistently measure intervals of time shorter than the natural units, the year, the day, and the lunar month.

None of the first clocks survived from the13th century Europe, but various mentions in church records reveal some of their early history. Medieval religious institutions required clocks to measure and indicate the passing of time because, for many centuries, daily prayers and work schedules had to be strictly regulated. This was done through various types of time telling and recording devices, such as water clocks, sundials and marked candles, probably used in combination. Bells, rung either by hand or by some mechanical device such as a falling weight or rotating beater, broadcast important times and durations.

Now in our busy lives, we need watches or clocks constantly. The wall clock or table clock are both useful items in our homes. Various types of clocks are currently available in the market. Some are attractive enough to be considered as artwork. The making of a clock is also an art. The demand for the clock is increasing daily, contributing to the growth of the industry.

The old traditional standing grandfather's clock still looks very elegant. Even in the modern house, people love to hang a simple round clocks on their walls. Younger people want dynamic clocks for their living rooms. Some clocks are made of stainless steel, some are ceramic, even glass or paper clocks have become very popular. They come in various shapes and sizes.

Clocks these days are very hardworking. Not only do they tell time, they also decorate our walls, bedside tables or coffee tables. People want a wall clock against their beds or a table clock beside their beds. Early in the morning, people require alarm systems or wake-up calls. A study table or office is incomplete without a clock. Even a housewife needs a wall clock in the kitchen. So, the clock is telling our life story.

NAZNEEN HAQUE MIMI
Interior Consultant
JOURNEYMAN
E-mail: journeym@citechco.net
Photo credit: Hasan Saifuddin Chandan