Home » Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Discussion Forum (Archived)

Please consider registering
Guest
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Min search length: 3 characters / Max search length: 84 characters
The forums are currently locked and only available for read only access
sp_TopicIcon
The changing meanings of words
Guest
1
2011/04/08 - 8:20pm

Here's a link to an interesting article by Ben Yagoda on Slate.com about the changing meanings of words and the pros and cons of clinging to "old" meanings against a rising tide. What I found perhaps most interesting is the quiz he gave his students — university students in an advanced writing seminar — and their high rates of use, by overwhelming margins, of the "new" meanings of several common (some, such as nonplussed, might be somewhat uncommon) words.

Forum Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
Show Stats
Administrators:
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Moderators:
Grant Barrett
Top Posters:
Newest Members:
Eileen Kosnik
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 1
Topics: 3647
Posts: 18912

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 618
Members: 1267
Moderators: 1
Admins: 2
Most Users Ever Online: 1147
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 17
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)