JS Tip 599: The Reason It's So Confusing, Part II

Last week, we talked about the reasons why English is so confusing: It’s not a logical language. It’s a historical language.

We talked about a historic moment (actually, probably more like a historic three hours) that changed the course of history and of the language: The Battle of Hastings in 1066. A thousand years ago. 

But the changes continue. To now. To today. 

Old words have left the language: 

Deathman (Note 1)
Quisling (Note 2)
Typewriter (Note 3)

New words have entered the language:

Ms. (Note 4)
Spreadsheet (Note 5)
D’oh! (Note 6)

These changes haven’t happened because someone logically struck the words out of or added the words to the vocabulary. To the dictionary.

They’ve happened because of historic social, technological, or cultural change.

Not logic.  History. 

We love this stuff.

See you next week.

______

  1. A medieval term for an executioner.

  2. A 20th-century word for traitor (Vidkun Quisling betrayed Norway to the Nazis). 

  3. Okay. A stretch. But there are people reading this tip who’ve never used a typewriter. The word will disappear—probably in our lifetimes. 

  4. Social change. The frustration of identifying “Miss” or “Mrs.” 

  5. Technological change. Your grandmother will tell you she uses a spreadsheet every time she changes the bed. 

  6. Cultural change. Thank you, Homer Simpson. 

Kurt Weiland