i have all the information I need to write my paper that's due tomorrow, but I really don't have the motivation to write it right now. It's over words etymology and linguistic history.
Basically, grammar and spelling used to not be important as long as your point got across. Also, words meanings change, sometimes drastically. Ecstasy used to mean pretty much the opposite of what it means now (and you know... didn't also refer to a drug). Like, a fit of terror. Then it took on a more biblical meaning, like things tended to do around that time frame... and then became the feeling of inspiration and goodness that it means now. Being enthusiastic used to mean you were being possessed by a god or having some sort of supernatural inspiration (or inspiration in general). Then it had a more religious meaning, "A vain confidence of divine favour or communication" (which sounds a lot like "possession of a god" but I guess this was when it became more christian). It didn't start to mean being passionate about something until the early 1900's (as far as it's recorded at least). It's weird thinking about, and REALLY interesting and I'm glad I have the OED for free through school, but how do I make this one paragraph equal two pages? Doubles spaced... so more like one page. Still.
However, this got me thinking on a more every day level. We harshly judge people based on their spelling and grammar. Their intelligence will be questioned if what they write is riddled with mistakes, and yet Shakespeare had worse spelling and grammar than a lot of those people. Terrible spelling. People understood what he meant though, and therefor didn't call him an idiot because he may not have used to most widely accept way of spelling something. That's why some people spell color colour and why neither are wrong. There were 15 recorded spellings for ecstasy. 15 ways that it's been spelled throughout time, most of which are pretty common spelling mistakes NOW.
So why are they mistakes? Why is it wrong to accept a broader range of spelling just because it's not within the new and fancy rules of the English language? If we understand someone then why do we care more about how they wrote it than the idea that they're actually trying to convey? Does it really matter if we write then instead of than, because in most cases I'm pretty sure we'd know what the person meant (unless you're being a smart ass.)
Also, I've held this opinion for a while, but I've also tried to refrain from the terminology... But gay now is synonymous with stupid. It just is. It's widely used and accepted. Sure, it used to mean happy and evolved to mean homosexual. Now it's evolved more and now it refers to something that someone doesn't like. That's just how it works, honestly. We can keep trying to fight it, but words change. Drastically sometimes. You don't have to keep up with current language but it's not going to stop growing just because you don't like it.
EVERYTHING is in constant motion in this world. We all have to be too if we don't want to be left behind.
XoXo,
S
1 comment:
I disagree just because I'm picky about grammar. For me, it's a matter of efficiency. When I see something wrong it slows me down, and I have to rethink what I've just read.
Also, you should look into détournement and the appropriation of words/images in modern culture (aka memes, lol). It's really interesting, especially as a political device that was used by the Situationist International back in the '50s.
Modern example: Rick Santorum's last name.
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