Semantic Shift

Summary

In this video, Moti Lieberman explores the fascinating phenomenon of semantic shift—how words change their meanings over time. From the narrowing of 'meat' to refer specifically to animal flesh, to the broadening of 'holiday' to mean any day off, the script delves into various types of meaning shifts such as broadening, narrowing, amelioration, pejoration, and metaphorical use. The video highlights how language evolves due to usage patterns, showcasing how even familiar words can undergo dramatic transformations. Through historical examples and linguistic processes, viewers gain insight into the dynamic nature of language.

Takeaways

• 😀 Language is constantly changing, with shifts in sounds, grammar, and vocabulary over time.
• 😀 Words can undergo semantic shifts, where their meanings change based on usage and context.
• 😀 The word 'meat' originally meant food in general, but now it specifically refers to animal flesh.
• 😀 Narrowing is a type of semantic shift where a word's meaning becomes more specific, like 'girl' and 'deer'.
• 😀 Broadening is when a word's meaning becomes more general, like 'holiday' or 'sake'.
• 😀 Metaphorical use of words, like 'grasp', can lead to shifts in meaning, such as 'understand'.
• 😀 Amelioration is when a word's meaning becomes more positive over time, such as 'nice' and 'Pumpernickel'.
• 😀 Pejoration is when a word's meaning becomes more negative, like 'silly' or 'poison'.
• 😀 Weakening occurs when words lose their intensity or original meaning, such as 'literally' or 'awesome'.
• 😀 The concept of 'strengthening' in language does not really exist in the same way as other semantic shifts.
• 😀 Semantic shifts can occur multiple times for the same word, as seen with the word 'hearse' changing from a farming tool to a funeral vehicle.

Q & A

What is the main idea behind the concept of semantic shift in language?

Semantic shift refers to the process where words change their meaning over time. This can involve meanings becoming narrower, broader, more positive or negative, weaker, or just different based on how people use the language.

How did the word 'meat' evolve over time?

'Meat' originally meant 'food' in general, but over time its meaning narrowed to specifically refer to the fleshy parts of animals that we eat.

What is an example of narrowing in language, as described in the transcript?

An example of narrowing is the word 'girl', which used to refer to any young child, regardless of gender. By the 1500s, it became specifically used to refer to female children.

Can you give an example of a word that has undergone broadening?

The word 'holiday' is an example of broadening. It originally meant a 'holy day' or religious event, but now it can refer to any day off or even a vacation.

What is metaphorical usage, and how does it affect words?

Metaphorical usage happens when a word takes on a new meaning through figurative language. For example, 'grasp' originally meant to physically hold something, but now it can also mean 'to understand' something.

What is amelioration, and how does it change a word’s meaning?

Amelioration is when a word takes on a more positive meaning over time. For example, the word 'nice' used to mean 'foolish' or 'silly', but it now means 'pleasant' or 'agreeable'.

Can you provide an example of pejoration in language?

Pejoration is when a word's meaning becomes more negative over time. A good example is the word 'poison', which originally meant 'potion' (something beneficial) but eventually came to refer to something harmful or deadly.

What is weakening in semantic shift, and how does it occur?

Weakening happens when a word’s meaning becomes less intense over time. For instance, the word 'literally' used to mean 'exactly as stated', but now it's often used in a figurative sense to emphasize exaggeration, like 'I’m literally starving'.

Why doesn't 'strengthening' seem to occur in language in the same way as other types of semantic change?

Strengthening doesn't typically occur because people usually use hyperbole to exaggerate the intensity of meaning, but there’s rarely a trend of a word becoming stronger or more intense over time in everyday usage.

How did the word 'hearse' change in meaning over time?

The word 'hearse' originally referred to a triangular farming tool. It later came to describe a candle-holder used in churches, and then a specific kind of candle-holder placed over coffins. Eventually, it came to refer to the vehicle used to transport coffins.