Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Dude! You got to read this .
From CNN : CNN.com - Dude -- professor studies 'dude' - Dec 8, 2004
This got me thinking to what extent, language is so much, it is a reflection of our interpersonal relationships, our society, in other words it can be one true parameter to understand the framework we live in. Apart from etymology (which is endlessly interesting in itself), the very fact that certain words were created or modified to convey a meaning which required to be called something is so fascinating.
For example, Blog was recently voted the word of the year 2004 by Merriam-Webster.
¶ permalink A linguist from the University of Pittsburgh has published a scholarly paper deconstructing and deciphering the word "dude," contending it is much more than a catchall for lazy, inarticulate surfers, skaters, slackers and teenagers. Kiesling says in the fall edition of American Speech that the word derives its power from something he calls cool solidarity -- an effortless kinship that's not too intimate. It's like man or buddy, there is often this male-male addressed term that says, 'I'm your friend but not much more than your friend'. He found the word taps into nonconformity and a new American image of leisurely success.
This got me thinking to what extent, language is so much, it is a reflection of our interpersonal relationships, our society, in other words it can be one true parameter to understand the framework we live in. Apart from etymology (which is endlessly interesting in itself), the very fact that certain words were created or modified to convey a meaning which required to be called something is so fascinating.
For example, Blog was recently voted the word of the year 2004 by Merriam-Webster.
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Interesting stuff. There is an element of truth that rings in this. People draw social inferences about a culture based on a language. For example, The French do not have an equivalent word for "humor" and there is no equivalent word for "cynic" in Hindi.Based on analyses like these people tend to conclude that French lack humor and Hindustani people are not cynical at all.
I take these things with a grain of salt because (if you have seen the Matrix: Revolutions you would relate),a word expresses a connection to some expression,feeling,etc..lack of connection is not a connection of lacking in it.
Since you brought this nice topic can I refer you to an excellent book that sought to debunk some myths about language..
I take these things with a grain of salt because (if you have seen the Matrix: Revolutions you would relate),a word expresses a connection to some expression,feeling,etc..lack of connection is not a connection of lacking in it.
Since you brought this nice topic can I refer you to an excellent book that sought to debunk some myths about language..
For what is a great source for words that have meanings well understood, but not official yet see
Urban dictionary. It's a wiki style webpage with much less editing, so ignore the crazy def's on some.
Urban dictionary. It's a wiki style webpage with much less editing, so ignore the crazy def's on some.
[Paddy] You are right, we probably do read too much into this physcho social babble of social language connections. Thanks for the link, I will definitely check out the book you suggested.
[Hirak] Yes, the Urban Dictionary is a cool idea ! A living dictionary as I call it :). Has helped me decipher American slang on a number of occassions, the latest one the word "hummer". :|
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