NationStates Jolt Archive

So, I was at Yinzlings (the undergraduate linguistics club at college) Monday, and part of our meetings is a random word: it's history, meaning, stuff like that.

This past Monday, the word chosen was "horror" (the meeting being the day before Halloween). The presenter handed out the sheet and explained the root and the progression and evolution to English and such. Then at the end, she said this:

"Today we can find horror almost everywhere we look, especially at this time of year! The word tragically suffered a decreasing level of potency along with its secularization. Consider:
-When was the last time you felt true 'horror' whole watching a horror movie?
- Did your hair really stand on end?
- Did you fear for your immortal soul in the face of divine wrath?
- If you answered 'no' to either of the above questions, you have contributed evidence to the theory that the word 'horror' is not nearly as cool as it used to be. Let's bring it back!"

Also it was brought up that in Old English (I think she really meant older English) the word "swipe" was used rather than "so" or "really" So, instead of "That movie was so good!" we would have "That movie was swipe good!"

An unofficial resolution passed (at least I think it did; we aren't the epitome of organization and parliamentary procedure) that we should bring back these words.

So just wondering: do you think that there are words which have been weakened and that the original meaning/connotation should be brought back?

I think "shame" should have it's original connotation brought back.

So just wondering: do you think that there are words which have been weakened and that the original meaning/conotation should be brought back?

No. Language evolves; trying to fix it at one point in time, or take it back to an earlier time, is ridiculous.

"Swipes" are the name of our meal-plan credits at my college...I think that might add too much confusion to an already confusing situation.

And Kipling's "Just-so Stories" retitled "Just-swipe Stories" sounds like some kind of political critique of debt-drive consumerism...although that's not necessarily a n uninteresting idea.

"Swipes" are the name of our meal-plan credits at my college...I think that might add too much confusion to an already confusing situation.

And Kipling's "Just-so Stories" retitled "Just-swipe Stories" sounds like some kind of political critique of debt-drive consumerism...although that's not necessarily a n uninteresting idea.

"So" wouldn't be replaced entirely. It would still exist as a conjunction "I went to the so I could buy an apple." It would still be an adverb, also. "Hold the basket so." And as a pronoun also. "They are friends and will remain so" (Some might argue this last one is really an adverb.) Even as an adjective it would remain. "Just-so Stories"

I can't think of the term, but it would only replace emphatic adjective. "That was so good." "That was really good." etc.