"I mean garbage collectors becoming recycling and disposal operatives, and other people being given job titles to disguise the true nature of their work, like the MD is now the CEO etc etc." Giok

Unfortunate (for you) example you gave there, Giok! Garbage collecting IS different from recycling, for instance.

Personally I think that many changed job titles now reflect more accurately what is being referred to.

I don't know what an MD is (GM =General Manager, perhaps?) but a Chief Executive Officer is certainly more specific than a Manager.

A Chair of a meeting is more accurate than a ChairMAN. It is the postion that is referred to, not the sex.

Firefighter is more accurate than fireMAN- again it may be either sex.

Flagger is better than FlagMAN, right?

Lots of others. Just because there are silly abuses doesn't negate the intent.

But earl, baron and baroness, lord and lady, duke and duchess... If those are not archaic titles and positions, I don't know what is.

Back to you, Jack. (Or Giok, as the case may be!)