Everyday Words By Linda Stowe
Language changes as everyday words get assigned new meanings. Somewhere along the line cool came to describe more than the temperature and gay came to describe more than a frame of mind. Sometimes the words are flexible and can accommodate the extra load; other times they become more associated with their new meaning.
Take the words grope, patriot, and groom. Each of these once neutral words now carries some negative baggage because of currant usage. Grandpa used to grope for his eyeglasses but now the word is associated with sexual imposition. It was not so long ago that people were proud to be called a patriot but now the word has been co-opted by the MAGA movement to describe a Trump-supporting radical. And, thanks to QAnon conspiracy theorists, the verb groom is more often used to describe the activities of child molesters than people attending to their appearance.
This is often unfortunate and even sometimes wrong that perfectly fine words have morphed into negative connotations. I’m thinking about the name Karen. Almost overnight perfectly innocent women were labeled as someone who acts superior, demanding, or prejudiced, particularly towards minorities. I don’t know where it’s going next, but I’m sure that it is a trend that will continue as long as we keep reusing words rather than inventing new ones.
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Polly here.
Our words are so important. They do so much. They are our stories.
And.
We are our words. We must always remember this.
Our words become a part of others’ lives. We must always remember this too.
Everyday Words By Linda Stowe
