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The English Language
Have you ever noticed that as a result of the English Language absorbing so many foreign words that we frequently find that we now have several words to express the same idea. For example: 'sympathy' (Greek), 'condolence' (Latin), 'fellow feeling' (Saxon). 'rapport' (French)
Also the clear difference between words of a similar meaning? For example: 'boyish' and 'puerile', 'human' and 'humane' and between, 'hanged' and 'hung'.
What about words that gives shape and sound to their meaning. For example: 'Ghost' looks a ghostly word, and 'phantom' gives me a sense of something transparent. 'Death' is a very dark word, full of mystery and power, ending in a shadow. 'Triumphant' is colourful and suggests a fanfare. 'Magnificent' and in its very appearance this Latin word appears 'magnificent'. 'Silver' has a distinct gleam; 'gold' soft but rich and powerful; 'lead' sounds soft and dull.
Finally, why do we call the hippo a hippopotamus instead of a 'river cow'? Is it because this Greek word is more like the hippo itself-huge, clumsy, and ugly?
What a wonderful language.
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Comments, critiques and replies
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It certainly makes you wonder what the outcome would be if you asked someone who didn't know what the
words meant to describe them. Do the descriptions spring to mind because we know their meanings already
or do the words really define themselves in some way? Interesting...
JD | JD Higginson [410] | 26/04/2009 |
Nice food for thought... I think JD has a point, though.
Happy writing! ;) | zion613 [304] | 27/04/2009 |
Never thought about our language like that. That's really a goo insight to look into. Thanks rowland!
DeUndrae | DeUndrae [141] | 06/06/2009 |
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