Semantic change facts for kids

Semantic change is like a word's journey through time. It's when the meaning of a word changes, sometimes so much that its modern use is very different from its original meaning. Imagine a word starting as one thing and ending up as something completely new! This happens all the time in languages. Words can gain new meanings, lose old ones, or have their feelings (connotations) change. Studying these changes helps us understand where words come from and how they evolve.

How Word Meanings Change Over Time

Understanding Semantic Change

Words are not set in stone; their meanings can shift and develop over hundreds of years. This process is called semantic change. It's a fascinating part of language change that shows how language is always alive and adapting. Linguists, who study language, look at how words get new senses or how their old meanings fade away.

Cool Examples of Word Changes

Many words we use every day have surprising original meanings. Here are some examples from English:

From "Full of Awe" to "Very Bad": The Word Awful

Originally, awful meant "full of awe," like something that inspired great wonder or fear. It was used to describe impressive things. Today, when we say something is awful, we mean it's "extremely bad."

From "Awe-Inducing" to "Extremely Good": The Word Awesome

Similar to awful, awesome first meant "inspiring wonder or fear." It described something truly impressive. Now, awesome usually means "extremely good" or "fantastic."

From "Inspiring Terror" to "Spectacularly Bad": The Word Terrible

The word terrible once meant "inspiring terror." Over time, it shifted to describe anything spectacular, then specifically something "spectacularly bad."

From "Inspiring Terror" to "Spectacularly Good": The Word Terrific

Like terrible, terrific also started as "inspiring terror." It then changed to mean anything spectacular, and now it often means "spectacularly good" or "excellent."

From "Foolish" to "Kind": The Story of Nice

The word nice has had an amazing journey! It came from an Old French word meaning "careless, clumsy, simple, or foolish." From there, it went through many changes, meaning things like "timid," "fussy," "delicate," and "precise." By the 18th and 19th centuries, it finally settled on meanings like "agreeable," "delightful," and "kind."

From "Natural" to "Simple": The Word Naïve

Naïve originally meant "natural, primitive, or native." It came from a French word that literally meant "native." Later, it also described a "simpleton" or someone who is innocent and lacks experience.

From "Leader of People" to "Manipulative Politician": The Word Demagogue

In ancient Greek, a demagogue was simply a "leader of the people." It was a neutral term. Today, the word has a strong negative meaning. It describes a politician who tries to gain power by appealing to people's emotions and prejudice, rather than using logic.

From "Remarkably Good" to "Remarkably Bad": The Word Egregious

Egregious once described something remarkably good or outstanding. It came from Latin, meaning "standing out from the flock." Now, it means something that is "remarkably bad" or "flagrant," like a terrible mistake.

From "Joyful" to "Homosexual": The Meaning of Gay

The word gay once meant "lighthearted" or "joyful" in the 13th century. It also described things that were "bright and showy." Over time, its meaning changed. By the 20th century, especially in the United States, it began to be used to refer to people who are attracted to others of the same gender. Today, this is its most common meaning.

From a Plotter to "Any Person": The Word Guy

The word guy comes from Guy Fawkes, who was involved in a plot to blow up the English Houses of Parliament in 1605. After this, people made and burned effigies (dolls) of Fawkes, calling them "Guys." This led to guy meaning a "person of grotesque appearance." Later, especially in the United States, it became a common word for "any man." Now, in the plural ("you guys"), it can even refer to a mixed group of people.

How We Classify Meaning Changes

Linguists have created different ways to categorize how word meanings change. Understanding these types helps us see patterns in language evolution.

Making Meanings Wider or Narrower

• Narrowing: A word's meaning becomes more specific. For example, skyline used to mean any horizon. Now, in the US, it often refers specifically to a horizon with tall buildings like skyscrapers.
• Widening: A word's meaning becomes more general. Think of brand names like Kleenex. It's a specific brand of tissue, but many people use "Kleenex" to mean any facial tissue. This is called genericization.

Using Words in New Ways: Metaphor and Metonymy

• Metaphor: This is when a word's meaning changes based on a similarity between two things. For instance, broadcast originally meant "to scatter seeds." With radio and TV, it was extended to mean "to send out signals," because it's like scattering information.
• Metonymy: This change happens when words are linked because they are close in space or time. For example, jaw originally meant "cheek." It later shifted to mean the "mandible" (the bone that holds your teeth), because the jaw is near the cheek.
• Synecdoche: A type of metonymy where a part represents the whole, or vice versa. For example, saying "all hands on deck" uses "hands" to mean "sailors."

Other Types of Meaning Shifts

• Hyperbole: A word's meaning becomes stronger. Kill once meant "to torment" but now means "to slaughter."
• Meiosis: A word's meaning becomes weaker. Astound used to mean "to strike with thunder" but now means "to surprise strongly."
• Degeneration: A word's meaning becomes more negative. Knave once meant "boy" but changed to mean a "deceitful or despicable man."
• Elevation: A word's meaning becomes more positive. Knight used to mean "boy" but changed to mean a "nobleman."

Why Do Word Meanings Change?

Many things can cause words to change their meanings. It's not just random!

• Social Reasons: How people interact and use language can shift meanings. Sometimes, words change because of new social trends or groups.
• Cultural Changes: As our world changes, so does our language. New inventions, ideas, or ways of life often lead to new meanings for old words. For example, the word mouse changed from just meaning a "rodent" to also meaning a "computer device."
• Psychological Reasons: Our minds play a role too. Sometimes, we might mix up words or use them in new ways because of how we think or feel.
• Linguistic Reasons: The way words sound or how they are used in sentences can also cause changes. Sometimes, words that sound similar might influence each other's meanings.

Taking Back Words: Reappropriation

A special kind of semantic change is called reappropriation. This is when a group takes a word that was once used to insult or belittle them and reclaims it. They start using the word themselves in a positive or neutral way. This takes away the power of the insult and turns it into a symbol of identity or pride. For example, the word queer was once a derogatory term, but it has been reappropriated by some in the LGBTQ+ community.

Studying Word Changes

Linguists and historians use etymological dictionaries to trace the history of words and their meanings. These books are like detective stories for words! There are also online tools that help researchers see how words have evolved over time, using huge collections of texts like the Google Books ngram dataset.

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