In Search of Meaning

“Prolonged study of the English language leaves me with a conviction that nearly all the linguistic tendencies of the present day have been displayed in earlier centuries, and it is self-evident that the language has not bled to death through change. Vulgarity finds its antidote; old crudities become softened with time. Distinctions, both those that are useful and those that are burdensome, flourish and die, reflourish and die again.”

This is so true, if you just take a look at the evolution of the word “nice” and “fool” across centuries and the fact that grammatical distinctions such as semi-colon and colon have fallen out of vogue in recent times. But so have, spellings! It will be interesting to watch the language not bleed to death in the current technology context.

1pm