Etymology- How Words Change Over Time

Etymology is the study of the origins of words.

As Languages develop the meaning of words can change over time. This causes confusion and misunderstanding when communicating with other people.

In a world were you make a living at communicating, advertising or marketing, it is not only important to have clarity in your message, it is also important to think of your target market and understand how they understand words and messages.

On the positive side that words change meaning over time, it has been noted that Languages that stay alive, adapt and grow over time.

An example would be the word nice. Nice used to be an insult and meant foolish or stupid in the 13th century and it went through many changes right through to the 18th century with meanings like wanton, extravagant, elegant, strange, modest, thin, and shy or coy. Now it means a good & pleasing or thoughtful & kind.

Silly meant blessed or happy in the 11th century and went through pious, innocent, harmless, pitiable and feeble minded before ending up as foolish or stupid.

Pretty started as crafty this changed to clever or skillfully made, then to fine and ended up as beautiful.

Some other changes are:

Word ______ Original Meaning

Awful________ Deserving of awe

Bead _________Prayer

Brave_________ Cowardice (as in bravado)

Girl__________ Young person of either sex

Neck_________ Parcel of land (as in neck of the woods)

Nuisance______ Injury, harm

Sophisticated___Corrupted

There are several reasons for words change meaning. One is the influence of other languages and cultures. Throughout history, many nations through conquering or intermixing with one another, introduced their own languages into the mix. Another reason is the predominate use of slang words. We get so used to using them that many times we forget that we even are.

So when it comes to defining words, there is the standard dictonary, which by the way can show multiple meanings for one word, and there is the definition of the word in slang.
As well, slang words spread faster and are used more often than before, making them common place in many societies.

Due to the advancement of science and technology, new words are also being created at an amazing rate. Keeping up with some of the new words and your usage of them will help in your efforts understand and to become a master communicator.

Once every ten years, the Merriam- Webster dictionary is updated. Their 11th edition for 2003 included some 10,000 new words along with 100,000 new meanings to words already existing and some 225,00 revised definitions.

Some of the slang words that have made it in the dictionary are;

Headbanger- a hard rock musician and a fan

Dead presidents- Paper currency

Prairie Gophering - people who peer above their cubicles at work.

McJob- Low paying and dead-end work.

Comb-over- an attempt to cover a bald spot

You can learn about more words in an etymology dictionary.

We can use this as another reminder, especially when it is important to have a group goal achieved, that what a word means to us, may not have the same meaning to someone else.

There is also the emotional reactions that different people have to certain words. But that's another story...

How To Change Keyboard Language In Windows XP

If you want to learn how to change your keyboard Language while using Windows XP, you come to the right article. It's fairly easy once you know how it's done and by the end of this article you will.

Of course, the first step is to sit in front of your turned on computer which I assume you are since you're reading this article. Now that you're sitting comfortably, you can begin to change your keyboard Language.

1. Click the Start button at the bottom left corner of the screen. This will present you with a long two column menu. On the right menu, click the option Control Panel.

2. There are 2 options in which the Control Panel icons may be presented: catergory or classic. You want to be in Classic view. You can see at the left side of the Control Panel which view you're currently in. If it says Switch To Category View, it means you're now in Classic view which is what you want. If it says Switch to Classic View, click that link.

3. In The Control panel, click the Regional and Language Options icon. This will open a small dialog. You're about halfway to changing your keyboard language.

4. In this new dialog, you will see 3 tabs. The middle one reads Languages. Click on that.

5. In the top half of this tab, you will see a button which reads Details. Click on that button. A new dialog window will open.

6. In The lower half of the new dialog window, you will see and Add button. This will open yet another dialog window.

7. At the top half of this screen, you will see a Combo under the title of Input Language. Choose the language you wish to add and click OK twice.

8. Look at the bottom of your screen in what is known as the System Tray (bottom right corner), you will see an indication of the current language you're using (EN signifies English). You can now switch between the different language you've installed by pressing Alt+Shift keys.

There you have it. You've successfully changed your keyboard language.