110 likes | 118 Views
Explore the changing language and the impact of words with this comprehensive overview. From neologisms to euphemisms, uncover how words shape our understanding.
E N D
English 11 Euphemism and Other Diction issues – a general overview of the power of words!
Our changing language • Webster’s dictionary 200 years ago – 40,600 entries • 1961 – 450,000 entries • College dictionary – 160,000 • Estimated words in English ½ -1 million • 15,000 – 50,000 active words; 100,000 passive words
Our changing language • What does “whatever” mean? W
Words from words Robot—Fembot Roots Fer – to carry, bring, bear Confer, transfer, refer…. Root creation SPAM Acronyms NASA Committee to Re-Elect the President New Words Chilax Muffin top geobragging Things to consider…
Know What I’m sayin’? • ‘’slanguistic sensei” • - izzle • Shortened words/abbreviations • Euphemisms • “Awash in Euphemisms” article discussion • Lexicowards… • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sophia-a-mcclennen/stephen-colbert-christmas_b_1161217.html
Things to consider… • Calvin: I like to verb words.Hobbes: What?Calvin: I take nouns and adjectives and use them as verbs. Remember when "access" was a thing? Now it's something you do. It got verbed. . . . Verbing weirds language.Hobbes: Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. • Google noun and google verb
NEOLOGISMSAmerican Dialect Society • 2000 – Chad • 2001 – 9/11 • 2002 – WMD • 2003 – Metrosexual • 2004 – Red State • 2005 – Truthiness • 2006 – Plutoed • 2007 – Subprime • 2008 – Bailout • 2009 – Web 2.0 • 2010 - Gaterape
NEWSPEAK • Three Levels of Vocabulary • A – Simple • C – Technical, scientific • B – Constructed to impose a desirable mental attitude; compound words
EPONYM • Jezebel • Judas • Don Juan; Casanova • Cardigan • Cashmere • Malapropism • "We cannot let terrorists and rogue nations hold this nation hostile or hold our allies hostile." • Morphine • Watergate - gate
Nonwords • Gobbledygook • Doohickey • Thingamabob • Gazillion • Gynormous
Bawl Out Hightail It Fork Over Cliché Cock and Bull Sidekick Stool Pigeon Let the cat out of the bag Have a Screw Loose Jaywalker EXPRESSION ETYMOLOGY