Questions about how English has changed.
23
votes
5answers
2k views
Why have the subjunctive and indicative converged in Modern English?
It is to me a curious fact that the subjunctive mood of verbs in English has so nearly disappeared in modern times. In fact, even the correct form and usage of the subjunctive in Modern English barely ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
If the English language is always evolving, why do we need to learn and follow grammatical rules? [closed]
Since language evolves over time — the best example I can think of is slang where it mostly doesn't follow grammar rules — why is there a need to preserve grammar or stress that proper ...
31
votes
5answers
2k views
Is Valley Girl speak “like”, entering the language?
So like, I had this teacher? And he's like, "You're late?" And I'm like,
"There's like other people late too?"
I've always cringed at the word "like" strewn about in a spoken sentence. Well now ...
13
votes
4answers
454 views
When does a mistake become standard usage?
We all know that word meanings and usage change over time (though not all of us are happy about it). How long does a word have to be used in a particular way for that usage to be "okay"? At what ...
3
votes
3answers
404 views
Is there an 'official' way to suggest a new word become part of the English language? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Regulatory bodies and authoritative dictionaries for English
Creating a new word
What are the criteria to adopt new words into English?
I've always been told, at ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
Gay (homosexual) and gay (happy)
When did the main meaning of the word 'gay' shift from happy to homosexual? How did the meaning evolve, if there is a relation between the two?
13
votes
2answers
229 views
What’s going on with “drink > drench”? Is it like “passage > passenger”?
Edit: I am looking for a particular linguistic term for this process (which here uses terminal palatalization to indicate such) of turning passive verbs like drink into active verbs like drench. I ...
4
votes
2answers
367 views
What word describes our habit to use extremes in language, and what are its implications?
I have heard that in America, and likely elsewhere as well, we are beginning to be more gratuitous with our use of extreme words when not entirely accurate, such as the words "awesome", "always", ...
5
votes
1answer
167 views
Is there a technical term for the degeneration or evolution of words?
Based on this question, I was curious if there is an actual term that describes how words' meanings change or become deprecated over time.
3
votes
5answers
1k views
When did the use of acronyms begin? [closed]
What are some of the earliest acronyms and did they know it was an acronym at the time?
27
votes
5answers
1k views
Is it possible for a new irregular verb to appear in English language?
Consider these verbs in past tense:
faxed, emailed, googled
they are all regular verbs made out of new nouns.
Are there any new irregular verbs that I'm not aware of?
8
votes
4answers
643 views
What is the historic process for converting vulgar words into simply rude words?
I have noticed a pattern involving vulgarities where the previous generation's evil words become accepted as merely off-color or rude in the following generation. Is this merely each generation's ...
10
votes
6answers
874 views
When and how did “fail” become a noun?
Does anyone know when and how fail became a noun? I'd love to see one of those charts that shows the date of origin and subsequent growth of this usage.
6
votes
3answers
530 views
Why has Southern US English all but abandoned adverb forms?
In Southern US English, adverb forms are almost always replaced by their adjective forms. For example:
The journey was awful long.
He's running real fast.
He ran to the store quick.
He ...
5
votes
2answers
229 views
Recent grammar additions
A lot of questions have been dedicated to how evolution of English got many constructs of the old either fall out of use, merge, or evolve into different forms but still with 1:1 relation to original. ...
4
votes
2answers
133 views
What is the difference between these two “scip”s?
In a question about ships, I added an answer with the etymologies that underpin both ship and -ship.
"Ship" stems from scip: "O.E. scip "ship, boat," from P.Gmc. *skipan (cf. O.N., O.S., Goth. skip ...
1
vote
2answers
333 views
Is English the only language that distinguishes thumbs from other fingers? [closed]
A Russian colleague of mine recently told me that English is the only language that actively distinguishes between fingers and thumbs by having a completely separate word. Her phrasing of it was ...
