The Evolution of Language

Forget all the strict rules and guidelines you were taught in your high school English class. In everyday conversations, the English language is constantly shifting and evolving. People learn from each other and may adopt words from other languages, use older words to describe modern practices, or create brand-new words altogether.

The communication process is one of the most fascinating aspects of our culture. In just the past 20 years, the influence of the internet has caused new words to emerge, as well as a resurfacing of old words with altered definitions. These changes in our language are known by linguists as “semantic shifts.”

Semantic Shifts

According to professor and author Dr. Richard Nordquist, there are four basic types of semantic shifts that can be observed in the evolution of language. These changes include:

• Broadening. This occurs when a word that refers to something specific starts being applied to a more general group. For instance, the word “dog” in Old English was once used to refer to a specific breed, whereas today we use it as a general term to describe any dog breed.

• Narrowing. Narrowing is the exact opposite of broadening. It happens when a general term starts to take on a more specific meaning, causing it to be less inclusive of a larger group.

• Amelioration. Amelioration occurs when a word is viewed as more significant than its original definition. For example, the word “meticulous” used to refer to feelings of fear or timidity. Today, the word is used to describe someone who is careful, detail-oriented, and well-organized.

• Pejoration. As the opposite of amelioration, pejoration happens when a word’s meaning is downgraded or becomes depreciated as it’s used more frequently. For an example, Dr. Nordquist explains that the word “silly” used to mean “innocent” or “blessed.”

Internet Influences

The presence of the internet has introduced several new words to the English vocabulary. Words like “selfie,” “vlog,” “clickbait,” and “podcasts” emerged, as well as portmanteau words, which are created by fusing two different words together. Social media and cyberspace has additionally caused older words to take on revolutionized meanings, such as “troll,” “tweet,” “feed,” “stories,” and “handle.”

One other notable phenomenon occurred when people began using the word “friend” as a verb instead of solely as a noun to refer to the process of adding someone to your friends list on social media.

Furthermore, the internet has made it easier than ever for people around the world to communicate with one another, causing words from other languages to be used by others who may not speak the language. For example, the word “avatar” comes from the Sanskrit language, and the word “tsunami” originated in Japan. These terms are known as “loanwords,” or words that don’t have direct translations into English.

As the global community continues to utilize the power of the internet to share ideas, information, and funny cat videos, we can expect all kinds of new language evolutions to continue far into the future.