Why do some who some might try to enforce a certain way of using words that definitions haven't been changed but some of the same people try to...

[john james]

Why do some who some might try to enforce a certain way of using words that definitions haven't been changed but some of the same people try to change the definition of other words seemly to fit their ideology? And the definitions are not changed in the dictionary.

 

[Andy Sist]

Why do some who some might try to enforce a certain way of using words that definitions haven't been changed but some of the same people try to change the definition of other words seemly to fit their ideology? And the definitions are not changed in the dictionary.

Dictionaries don't create the meaning of words. They simply document the way words are being used by the general population. Word definitions can be fluid and often change with the times. It's been happening ever since language was developed. Dictionaries are often a few years behind currently accepted meanings. Did you have any specific words in mind?

 

[Backup]

Why do some who some might try to enforce a certain way of using words that definitions haven't been changed but some of the same people try to change the definition of other words seemly to fit their ideology? And the definitions are not changed in the dictionary.

“Socialist” is a great example of this.
Liberals use the term to mean a Liberal Western Democracy with a few more social safety nets like they have in Northern Europe and conservatives use the term to mean a radical Stalinist.

 

[Ficciones]

Why do some who some might try to enforce a certain way of using words that definitions haven't been changed but some of the same people try to change the definition of other words seemly to fit their ideology? And the definitions are not changed in the dictionary.

Why do some people post oblique, non specific and innuendo-laden questions that seem to be aimed at making other people guess at and articulate their own arguments for them?

Is it simple laziness, or a cowardly unwillingness to go out on a limb and actually say what one really thinks?

 

[Whateverman]

Why do some people post oblique, non specific and innuendo-laden questions that seem to be aimed at making other people guess at and articulate their own arguments for them?

Is it simple laziness, or a cowardly unwillingness to go out on a limb and actually say what one really thinks?

Speaking only for myself, this has been JJ's style since he joined CARM during its last stable incarnation of the forums. While I don't agree with him on a number of things, I've found that when questioned about this vague style, he's generally just trying to ask people about principles / opinions, rather than leading them towards a conclusion.

Question it as you see fit, of course.

 

[Carol]

“Socialist” is a great example of this.
Liberals use the term to mean a Liberal Western Democracy with a few more social safety nets like they have in Northern Europe and conservatives use the term to mean a radical Stalinist.

That's a matter of degrees.

"Liberal" is a better example.

 

[Backup]

That's a matter of degrees.

"Liberal" is a better example.

Conservatives use “liberal“ to mean communist.

”Classic Liberal“ only makes sense if you add the word classic.

Even self-described liberals separate themselves from extremist radicals by calling them leftists.

yeah, that’s a confusing one

 

[john james]

Dictionaries don't create the meaning of words. They simply document the way words are being used by the general population. Word definitions can be fluid and often change with the times. It's been happening ever since language was developed. Dictionaries are often a few years behind currently accepted meanings. Did you have any specific words in mind?

Some people may enforce language by saying don't use this form of the word or use that form of the word like the latino vs Latinx. But then those same people will change the definition of a word like racism. Why do they so that?

 

[Temujin]

Some people may enforce language by saying don't use this form of the word or use that form of the word like the latino vs Latinx. But then those same people will change the definition of a word like racism. Why do they so that?

Words change their meaning. All the time. It just happens in response to events, to fashion to innovation. As a grammar Nazi myself, I find it very irritating when usage and syntax changes from what I was taught was "proper", but I have to accept it. Nobody cares about split infinitives any more. Usage is what drives definitions, not dictionaries.

The only exceptions are legal terms, which have to remain constant to avoid miscarriages of justice. Judges, particularly in appeal hearings, are constantly refining definitions to keep them accurate.

 

[Whateverman]

Some people may enforce language by saying don't use this form of the word or use that form of the word like the latino vs Latinx. But then those same people will change the definition of a word like racism. Why do they so that?

People use different words differently. All you can do is figure out whether they're using those words correctly/fairly or not.

 

[Authentic Nouveau]

Conservatives use “liberal“ to mean communist.

”Classic Liberal“ only makes sense if you add the word classic.

Even self-described liberals separate themselves from extremist radicals by calling them leftists.

yeah, that’s a confusing one

Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Norte.

Social Democratic Party of Germany

Alte Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, (Old Social Democratic Party of Germany )

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