Reclaiming the Slur: The Linguistics of Reappropriation
How does a word forged in hate become a banner of pride? The process, known as reappropriation, is a powerful act of linguistic jujitsu where marginalized communities seize the language…
Tag: semantic change
How Words Go Bad: The Science of Pejoration
Why did "silly" once mean "blessed," and "villain" just mean "farmhand"? This post explores pejoration, the fascinating linguistic process where a word's meaning drifts to become more negative. We dive…
Biography of a Word: The Journey of ‘Assassin’
Discover the dramatic history of the word 'assassin,' a term born from a mysterious medieval sect in the mountains of Persia. Journey with Marco Polo as he spreads their sensational…
The Graveyard of Words: Who Decides When a Word Is Officially Dead?
For every new word that enters the dictionary, thousands of others fall into disuse and disappear into the graveyard of language. This linguistic culling isn't decided by a single authority,…
The Euphemism Treadmill: Why We Can’t Stop Inventing New Words for Old Taboos
Ever wonder why we have a dozen words for the toilet? This is the "euphemism treadmill," a linguistic cycle where our polite words for taboo subjects inevitably become tainted by…
The Language of Salt: How a Single Commodity Carved Paths Across the Lexicon
Long before refrigeration, salt was a mineral so valuable that Roman soldiers were paid in it, giving us the word "salary." This single commodity seasoned our language as much as…
Famous Mistranslations: “Let Them Eat Cake!”
The phrase “Let them eat cake” is one of the most notorious remarks attributed to a historical figure. This sentence is believed to have been...
English Words of Suprising Origin – Part III
Our linguistic odyssey continues as we venture further into the intriguing world of English loan words. We are constantly reminded of the fluidity of language...
English Words of Suprising Origin – Part I
The English language is a kaleidoscope of cultural influence, where words from different corners of the world have found a home. With its global reach,...