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The Unexpected Evolution of Language: Discover the Surprising Etymology of Everyday Words
This book is awesome awful!
Did you know that "awful" first originated as a compliment? How about the fact that it was perfectly fine for someone to defecate in their living room? Or that at one time a bully was actually a sweetheart?
You may think that these things sound outlandish, but hundreds of years ago, the words "awful," "defecate," and "bully" meant something entirely different than what we know today. The Unexpected Evolution of Language reveals the origins of 208 everyday terms and the interesting stories behind their shift in meaning.
Arranged in alphabetical order, you will enjoy uncovering the backstories to terms
From "aftermath" and "sophisticated" to "empty" and "prestige," you will aboslutely love seeing just what kind of damage time has done to the English language.
Did you know that "awful" first originated as a compliment? How about the fact that it was perfectly fine for someone to defecate in their living room? Or that at one time a bully was actually a sweetheart?
You may think that these things sound outlandish, but hundreds of years ago, the words "awful," "defecate," and "bully" meant something entirely different than what we know today. The Unexpected Evolution of Language reveals the origins of 208 everyday terms and the interesting stories behind their shift in meaning.
Arranged in alphabetical order, you will enjoy uncovering the backstories to terms
From "aftermath" and "sophisticated" to "empty" and "prestige," you will aboslutely love seeing just what kind of damage time has done to the English language.
240 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2012
97 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 12, 2014
I've read many books on the etymology of the English language. After a certain point most books are recycling the same information, more or less, of the same words. This book is different in that it explains not only the history, but also how the English language, and really all languages, are fluid. With the passage of time the meaning of words change because of morals, fads, celebrities. Though the author puts everything into plain, everyday language, he doesn't dumb it down. Often humorous, this book is great for anyone who has asked why a word is the word it is.
October 22, 2013
A must read for any logophile. Arranged alphabetically, Hayes provides an original definition of a word followed by a "new" one. Next, a discussion of its "evolution" in usage. Uniquely, personage references frequently use the feminine gender. While many words retain some of their original meanings, the author employs alternative rather than truly "new" definitions.
June 12, 2019
Why would the evolution of language be unexpected to anyone who has a remote idea of the history of words. When we reflect upon the ways that the self-appointed cool people of our age, as well as those who wish to disguise their own immoral behavior and to reframe it, or those who wish to come up with less unpleasant ways of dealing with unpleasant realities, we can see the way that language changes over time, and not always very much time. The accidental phenomenon of the name of Watergate hotel being the location of the scandal that forced President Nixon to resign has led to any potential political scandal being affixed with a -gate, whether it deserves it or not, be it Nannygate or Whitewatergate and so on and so forth. This book does not even discuss that sort of linguistic evolution, but rather the type that makes "cool" describe something that is culturally popular for a while, but is then rejected when the term is used by people who are themselves seen as hopelessly uncool. Be that as it may, this book has a lot to offer in its word histories.
After a short introduction that states the obvious, namely that English is a mutt of a language that has been formed from a hodge-podge of elements ranging from the native development of Anglo-Saxon, elements added by contact and conquest involving Scandinavian, Celtic, and Norman French, Greek and Latin influences (often through French), and the remnants of imperialist ventures, the author moves straight into an alphabetically organized set of words whose meanings have changed over time from Old English or Middle English to contemporary use. Each word is noted with its original definition and changed one and there is a short essay that discusses the process by which it happened. This includes cases where there are multiple meanings as well as some discussion of the original word and its root meaning. The book is also full of little sidebars that provide humorous information that may relate to a word in question, like some quotes on courage as well as a note on farce and slapstick. Some of the words relate to each other and are cross-referenced accordingly as well. The book is almost 250 pages in length and closes with a bibliography for further reading.
Perhaps this book was meant for those who do not come to it with a great deal of existing interest and/or knowledge in etymology. After all, anyone who understands languages and their change over time [1] will find much to appreciate here as well. There are a variety of reasons why the meanings of words change over time. Some of them are based with larger shifts in culture and technology, so that a word that is in danger of becoming obsolete is instead used in a formerly secondary sense. Sometimes words change meaning because of errors resulting from proximity to other words whose meanings are confused and intermingled. At times irony and the influence of popular culture shifts the way that words are used and how they are defined. That is, as I noted above, a major aspect of contemporary language shifts. Whatever the reason for a particular shift in meaning, though, it is intriguing to see the origin of words and how and why those meanings do not remain constant over time. And such a book is one whose relevance is likely to be longlasting, because so long as people will seek to distinguish their word use from the past or seek to use words in new senses to deal with new realities or approaches, there will be more examples of changing language to report on as well.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2019...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
After a short introduction that states the obvious, namely that English is a mutt of a language that has been formed from a hodge-podge of elements ranging from the native development of Anglo-Saxon, elements added by contact and conquest involving Scandinavian, Celtic, and Norman French, Greek and Latin influences (often through French), and the remnants of imperialist ventures, the author moves straight into an alphabetically organized set of words whose meanings have changed over time from Old English or Middle English to contemporary use. Each word is noted with its original definition and changed one and there is a short essay that discusses the process by which it happened. This includes cases where there are multiple meanings as well as some discussion of the original word and its root meaning. The book is also full of little sidebars that provide humorous information that may relate to a word in question, like some quotes on courage as well as a note on farce and slapstick. Some of the words relate to each other and are cross-referenced accordingly as well. The book is almost 250 pages in length and closes with a bibliography for further reading.
Perhaps this book was meant for those who do not come to it with a great deal of existing interest and/or knowledge in etymology. After all, anyone who understands languages and their change over time [1] will find much to appreciate here as well. There are a variety of reasons why the meanings of words change over time. Some of them are based with larger shifts in culture and technology, so that a word that is in danger of becoming obsolete is instead used in a formerly secondary sense. Sometimes words change meaning because of errors resulting from proximity to other words whose meanings are confused and intermingled. At times irony and the influence of popular culture shifts the way that words are used and how they are defined. That is, as I noted above, a major aspect of contemporary language shifts. Whatever the reason for a particular shift in meaning, though, it is intriguing to see the origin of words and how and why those meanings do not remain constant over time. And such a book is one whose relevance is likely to be longlasting, because so long as people will seek to distinguish their word use from the past or seek to use words in new senses to deal with new realities or approaches, there will be more examples of changing language to report on as well.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2019...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
July 28, 2017
Just a list of words and their etymology.
June 27, 2021
If you are a logophile (lover of words) as I am, then this book is a treasure trove for you. Many common, familiar words started out meaning something quite different, or even opposite to their current meanings. Did you know, for instance, that "pencil" and "pen_s" come from the same root word?
Love words and history? Read this!
Love words and history? Read this!
July 5, 2022
That was fun....especially if you like etymology.
April 23, 2023
American
Not necessarily right from a British view of language. Could have been better though it is partly accurate. Best to avoid.
Not necessarily right from a British view of language. Could have been better though it is partly accurate. Best to avoid.
December 9, 2013
Gleefully erudite
April 20, 2023
A whole lot of nerdy word fun in a book.
A great bit of word history.
A great reminder to use the appropriate definition for the appropriate time period.
A great bit of word history.
A great reminder to use the appropriate definition for the appropriate time period.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews