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Devolution of language (view source)
Revision as of 14:55, February 5, 2009
, 14:55, February 5, 2009no edit summary
The '''devolution of language''' is the often-corrosive affect that culture, primarily entertainment, [[computer]]s, [[public school]]s, sports, and [[politics]], have on the meaning of words.
The '''devolution of language''' is the often-corrosive affect that culture, primarily entertainment, [[computer]]s, [[public school]]s, sports, games, literature, and [[politics]], have on the meaning of words. Words can enter popular usage either as a term once snobbishly seen as over-demotic gains acceptance, or as a jargon or specialized term becomes popularized.
There are several modes of semantic change
There are several modes of semantic change
Some examples include:
Some examples include:
* "clue" now means a signifier or a piece of evidence, rather than a ball of thread or yarn.
* "word" was once a more figurative term, as in "speech", but now has a more literal connotation partly due to its common usage in the familiar "word processor" product
* "word" was once a more figurative term, as in "speech", but now has a more literal connotation partly due to its common usage in the familiar "word processor" product
* "message" now means something very brief, and usually non-substantive, due to the influence of [[instant messaging]]
* "message" now means something very brief, and usually non-substantive, due to the influence of [[instant messaging]]