A friend asked: "Do you know the accurate meaning of the word 'Providence'?"
She added, "There are not many people I can talk about English language".
So I came up with this answer which I thought may be helpful to my students. Here's the text of what I wrote:
"Let me refresh what I've learnt. In Linguistics, Semantics (from the Greek semantikos, or 'significant meaning', derived from sema 'sign') is traditionally defined as the study of meaning. One area of study is the study of the semantic relations between different linguistic expressions, usually words. Linguists describe these relations and also try to characterize with as much precision as possible the meanings of words and other linguistic elements.
Semantic change, also known as semantic shift, semantic progression, or semantic drift is the evolution of word usage- usually to the point that the modern meaning is radically different from the original usage. In diachronic or historical linguistics, semantic change is a change in one of the meanings of a word. Every word has a variety of senses and connotations, which can be added, removed, or altered over time- often to the extent that cognates across space and time have very different meanings. The study of semantic change can be seen as part of etymology, onomasiology, semasiology or semantics...
Examples:
1. Awful:
Originally meant "inspiring wonder (or fear)". Used originally as a shortening for "full of awe", in contemporary usage the word usually has a negative meaning.
2. Demagogue:
Originally meant "a popular leader." It is from the Greek dēmagōgós "leader of the people", from dēmos "people" + agōgós "leading, guiding". Now the word has strong connotations of a politician who panders to emotions and prejudice.
3. Gay:
Originally meant (13th century) "lighthearted", "joyous" or (14th century) "bright and showy", it also came to mean "happy" but it acquired connotations of immorality as early as in 1637, eg., gay woman "prostitute", gay man "womanizer", gay house "brothel", gay dog "over-indulgent man" and gay deceiver "deceitful and lecherous" and so on. In the United States by 1897 the expression gay cat referred to a hobo, especially a younger hobo in the company of an older one; by 1935, it was used in prison slang for a homosexual boy; and by 1951 gaymeant homosexuals.
Now, I'll be to the point, okay? Coming to Providence (noun):
1. (often with initial capital letter) The foreseeing care and guidance of God
or nature over the creatures of the earth.
2. (initial capital letter) God, especially when conceived as omnisciently directing the universe and the affairs of humankind with wise benevolence.
3. a manifestation of divine care or direction.
4. provident or prudent management of resources; prudence.
5. foresight; provident care.
I know I will still be far from your expectations. Stay in touch and have a good week-end! " In response, I got the following reply: "Providence is from two Latin words; Pro means before, ahead of time. Videntia or videre means to see. So, "seeing ahead of time". God sees ahead of time though God is outside of time."
She added, "There are not many people I can talk about English language".
So I came up with this answer which I thought may be helpful to my students. Here's the text of what I wrote:
"Let me refresh what I've learnt. In Linguistics, Semantics (from the Greek semantikos, or 'significant meaning', derived from sema 'sign') is traditionally defined as the study of meaning. One area of study is the study of the semantic relations between different linguistic expressions, usually words. Linguists describe these relations and also try to characterize with as much precision as possible the meanings of words and other linguistic elements.
Semantic change, also known as semantic shift, semantic progression, or semantic drift is the evolution of word usage- usually to the point that the modern meaning is radically different from the original usage. In diachronic or historical linguistics, semantic change is a change in one of the meanings of a word. Every word has a variety of senses and connotations, which can be added, removed, or altered over time- often to the extent that cognates across space and time have very different meanings. The study of semantic change can be seen as part of etymology, onomasiology, semasiology or semantics...
Examples:
1. Awful:
Originally meant "inspiring wonder (or fear)". Used originally as a shortening for "full of awe", in contemporary usage the word usually has a negative meaning.
2. Demagogue:
Originally meant "a popular leader." It is from the Greek dēmagōgós "leader of the people", from dēmos "people" + agōgós "leading, guiding". Now the word has strong connotations of a politician who panders to emotions and prejudice.
3. Gay:
Originally meant (13th century) "lighthearted", "joyous" or (14th century) "bright and showy", it also came to mean "happy" but it acquired connotations of immorality as early as in 1637, eg., gay woman "prostitute", gay man "womanizer", gay house "brothel", gay dog "over-indulgent man" and gay deceiver "deceitful and lecherous" and so on. In the United States by 1897 the expression gay cat referred to a hobo, especially a younger hobo in the company of an older one; by 1935, it was used in prison slang for a homosexual boy; and by 1951 gaymeant homosexuals.
Now, I'll be to the point, okay? Coming to Providence (noun):
1. (often with initial capital letter) The foreseeing care and guidance of God
or nature over the creatures of the earth.
2. (initial capital letter) God, especially when conceived as omnisciently directing the universe and the affairs of humankind with wise benevolence.
3. a manifestation of divine care or direction.
4. provident or prudent management of resources; prudence.
5. foresight; provident care.
I know I will still be far from your expectations. Stay in touch and have a good week-end! " In response, I got the following reply: "Providence is from two Latin words; Pro means before, ahead of time. Videntia or videre means to see. So, "seeing ahead of time". God sees ahead of time though God is outside of time."
"Excellent", I must say. But if a few of you got sleepy, then read the following for a joyous week-end: "Tom had a sleeping problem and was always late for work. His boss was mad at him and threatened to fire him if he didn't do something about it. He suggested that Tom get a prescription for sleeping pills. Tom went to his doctor who gave him a pill and told him to take it before he went to bed. Wow, Tom slept exceptionally well and in fact, beat the alarm in the morning. He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work. "Boss," he said, "That pill actually worked!"
"That's all fine," said the boss, "But where were you yesterday?"
"That's all fine," said the boss, "But where were you yesterday?"
"There's a special providence in the fall of a sparrow"- Shakespeare (Hamlet, V.2)
Thank you and have a good week-end, alex abraham odikandathil
And we have plenty of very recent examples of slang crossover (Sick! Wicked! Bad!).
Crossover words are a tremendous testament to our awesome ability to shape the language as we use it.
The positive “terrific” dates to the slang-heavy flapper era, where “killer” also became a playful positive. To master our fears... to take our terror and use it to build something terrific.
Thanks, again- alex odikandathil
