Conservapedia

Changes

World History Lecture Seven (view source)

Revision as of 17:19, March 8, 2009

779 bytes added ,  17:19, March 8, 2009
→‎The History of the English Language: "genocide" and how its date of origin provides historical insight
Line 23: Line 23:     
One can spend hours enjoyably learning about the history of human thought simply by looking at when words were first created for important concepts.  For example, by looking up the word "tyranny" in the dictionary we see that it was developed in the 14th century (1300s), which was about the time that feudalism was being replaced by nation-states in England and France.  There would have been no concept of "tyranny" under feudalism before that time.  One can piece together much of English history simply by reading a dictionary!
 
One can spend hours enjoyably learning about the history of human thought simply by looking at when words were first created for important concepts.  For example, by looking up the word "tyranny" in the dictionary we see that it was developed in the 14th century (1300s), which was about the time that feudalism was being replaced by nation-states in England and France.  There would have been no concept of "tyranny" under feudalism before that time.  One can piece together much of English history simply by reading a dictionary!
 +
 +
The date of origin of a word can even resolve historical debates.  Some (including your instructor) feel that "genocide", which is the mass killing by government of a particularly ethnic group, arose only after the development of the evolutionary theory of "survival of the fittest," and the use of gun control first to remove the ability of citizens to defend themselves.  Because the "survival of the fittest" theory was not taught until the late 1800s, genocide did not occur prior to the 20th century.  Others, particularly promoters of the evolutionary theory, claim that genocide occurred earlier also.  But look in the dictionary at the date of origin of the word "genocide": 1944.  If it had occurred in prior centuries, then a word would have developed to describe it.
    
The oldest dates of origin are for numbers.  The number "six", for example, is listed as having an origin of "bef. 12c," which means before A.D. 1100.  That places the date of first use of simple numbers as before Middle English, and originating with Old English.
 
The oldest dates of origin are for numbers.  The number "six", for example, is listed as having an origin of "bef. 12c," which means before A.D. 1100.  That places the date of first use of simple numbers as before Middle English, and originating with Old English.
Aschlafly
Anthony, Irenaeus, Siteadmin, apieditor, Bureaucrats, Check users, nsAm_Govt_101RO, nsAm_Govt_101RW, nsAm_Govt_101_ta, nsJudgesRO, nsJudgesRW, nsJudges_talkRO, nsJudges_talkRW, nsTeam2RO, nsTeam2RW, nsTeam2_talkRO, nsTeam2_talkRW, oversight, Administrators
126,204

edits

Retrieved from "https://www.conservapedia.com/Special:MobileDiff/636328"