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Language
is Constantly Changing
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One
thing about the human race is that it is constantly in the
process of change; so is its language.
Language is constantly modified to meet the particular
needs of the people and society.
As the needs of society change so does the language.
Unless you are aware of those changes or use the
linguistic tools that will make them known to you, you will not
be aware of some very important changes. |
G+A+Y
I am sure that most people over the age of fifty are
aware of how the "bundle of associations" for the symbols g-a-y
has changed dramatically. When
I was much younger the primary meanings for the word "gay"
were joyful, happy and enthusiastic.
Today, if you asked ten people on the street what the word "gay"
meant the answer would be "homosexual."
J+E+T
If we happened to discover a message written just a
few hundred years ago that contained the word "jet,"
the one thing we could be sure of is that it wasn't referring to an
aircraft. The people of
that time period would have expected it to refer to a spout, like
a gas jet or water jet; or to a color like jet black.
F+E+L+L+O+W+S+H+I+P
Another word that has changed significantly is
"fellowship." Today
it means, “to be involved in a common activity.”
In 1611, when the King James Version of the Bible was written, it
meant something very different. It comes from the Old English word
“feolaga” which is borrowed from Scandinavian “felog.” Felog is
made up of “fe” (cattle or money) and “-log” (a person who lays
something down). In 1611,
fellowship meant "to lay down money or goods for a common
cause or undertaking; to
pool your resources."
In Acts 2:44‑45 we read: "and all that believed were
together, and had fellowship.” Did
you know that this meant, “they
had all things in common and sold their possessions and goods, and
parted them to all men, as every man had need"?
Below
are more examples of words that have acquired different bundles of
associations over the years. Each
word is followed by its original meaning.
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(1)
chauffeur - fireman (stoked the fire to keep
warm)
(2)
constable - stable companion
(3)
foyer - fireplace
(4)
holiday - holy day
(5) intoxicated - poisoned |
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(6) magazine - storehouse
(7)
meat - food of any kind
(8)
naughty - poor (one who had naught)
(9)
nice - stupid
(10)
steward - keeper of the pigs
(11) typewriter - person typing (not
machine) |
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