Language is a living, breathing entity that constantly evolves and adapts to the needs of its speakers. In "Words on the Move," linguist John McWhorter takes us on a fascinating journey through the ever-changing landscape of the English language. This book challenges our preconceptions about language and invites us to embrace the dynamic nature of how we communicate.
McWhorter's work is a celebration of linguistic evolution, exploring how words, grammar, and even punctuation shift over time. He argues that these changes are not signs of decay or degradation but rather evidence of a vibrant, adaptable language that reflects the needs and experiences of its users.
The Emotional Core of Language
Emotions in Art vs. Language
McWhorter begins by drawing an interesting parallel between the evolution of emotional expression in art and language. While the focus on individual emotions in art is a relatively recent phenomenon, dating back to the Renaissance, language has been a vehicle for emotional expression for much longer.
He uses the example of the word "well" to illustrate this point. Even in Old English, this simple word carried complex emotional connotations. When used at the beginning of a sentence, "well" allows speakers to correct someone without causing offense. It's a subtle yet powerful tool for navigating social interactions, demonstrating how deeply embedded emotional expression is in our language.
This comparison highlights an important aspect of language: its ability to convey not just information, but also attitudes, feelings, and social nuances. While art has only recently caught up in terms of emotional expression, language has been doing this heavy lifting for centuries.
Emoticons: The Latest Emotional Tool
Moving to the present day, McWhorter addresses the rise of emoticons in digital communication. Far from being a threat to written language, as some traditionalists fear, emoticons are simply the latest addition to our emotional linguistic toolkit.
McWhorter argues that emoticons serve a specific purpose in text-based communication, which has become increasingly casual and conversational. They help inject emotion and tone into messages that might otherwise be misinterpreted due to the lack of facial expressions and vocal cues.
He draws parallels between emoticons and words like "totally" or "like," which also serve to convey emotion or attitude rather than concrete information. Even the way we use "ass" as an intensifier (e.g., "meanass" meaning extremely mean) falls into this category.
McWhorter points out that other languages have similar emotional markers. German speakers use "mal" to express casualness, while Japanese speakers add "ne" to the end of sentences for a similar effect. These linguistic elements, like emoticons, are difficult to define precisely because their meaning is more about feeling than fact.
The Ever-Changing Nature of Words
Gradual Shifts in Meaning
One of the core ideas in "Words on the Move" is that the meanings of words are not set in stone. McWhorter illustrates this with numerous examples of how words have changed over time.
He points out that words retaining their original meaning for centuries, like "brother" or "I," are actually the exception rather than the rule. Most words undergo gradual shifts in meaning. For instance, "science" in Shakespeare's time meant knowledge in general, not specifically the systematic study of the natural world as we understand it today.
Another example is the evolution of the words "dog" and "hound." In medieval times, "dog" referred specifically to large, menacing canines, while "hound" was the generic term for all dogs. Over time, these meanings have essentially swapped.
McWhorter also delves into the fascinating history of the word "innumerable." Originally meaning "uncountable" in a literal sense, it has evolved to simply mean "a very large number." This shift happened gradually, with the word first being used for things so numerous they couldn't be counted, before eventually losing its connection to the idea of counting altogether.
These examples serve to illustrate McWhorter's point that language change is often a slow, subtle process. Words don't suddenly jump from one meaning to another but rather drift gradually over time, picking up new connotations and shedding old ones.
Verbs Becoming Nouns
Another interesting phenomenon McWhorter explores is the tendency in English for verbs to become nouns. He gives examples from business jargon, such as asking what "the ask" is or if there's "a solve" for a problem.
McWhorter points out that this is a relatively unique feature of English. In many other languages, like French or Spanish, verbs are more clearly marked by their endings, making such transformations more difficult.
But English doesn't just turn verbs into nouns; these new nouns often take on slightly different meanings from their verb counterparts. McWhorter uses the example of "solve" versus "solution." While they come from the same root, "solve" in a business context carries connotations of practicality and efficiency that "solution" lacks.
This ability to create new nouns from verbs, and for these nouns to develop their own nuanced meanings, contributes to the richness and flexibility of the English language.
Punctuation and Cultural Influence
The Changing Role of Exclamation Marks
McWhorter's exploration of language change extends even to punctuation, with a particular focus on the evolving use of exclamation marks. He notes that in recent years, exclamation marks have become much more common in casual written communication, particularly in emails and text messages.
However, this increased use doesn't necessarily indicate greater enthusiasm. Instead, McWhorter argues that the exclamation mark has undergone a kind of inflation. Its power to convey strong emphasis or surprise has diminished, and it's now often used simply to indicate engagement or politeness.
For example, ending a text message with "see you there!" feels warmer and more engaged than the same message without the exclamation mark. This shift in usage reflects a change in the social function of written communication, particularly in digital formats.
Cultural Influences on Punctuation
McWhorter also explores how contact with other cultures has influenced the way we use punctuation. He points to comic strips like "Archie" as an early influence on the use of multiple exclamation marks in casual dialogue.
He also notes that some cultures, particularly Scandinavian ones, have long used exclamation marks in ways that might seem overly enthusiastic to English speakers. For instance, opening a letter with "Sandra!" rather than "Dear Sandra" has been common in Sweden for quite some time.
These examples illustrate how language change doesn't happen in isolation. It's influenced by cultural contact, technological changes, and shifts in social norms around communication.
Word Blending and Its Impact
The Creation of New Words
McWhorter delves into the fascinating world of word blending, where two existing words combine to create a new one. He provides numerous examples of these "linguistic offspring," such as "sitcom" (situation comedy), "motel" (motor hotel), and "camcorder" (camera recorder).
He points out that the modern world, with its global networks and rapid communication, has accelerated the creation and spread of these blended words. A term coined for a specific purpose, like "staycation" (stay-at-home vacation), can quickly enter widespread usage if it resonates with people's experiences.
However, McWhorter also notes that not all new words stick around. While some, like Lewis Carroll's "chortle" (chuckle + snort), become permanent additions to the language, others, like "cafetorium" (cafeteria + auditorium), have a brief moment in the sun before fading away.
Blending in Old English
This exploration of word blending isn't just about modern linguistic trends. McWhorter uses it as a bridge to help us understand Old English, which was particularly fond of blending words.
He gives the example of how negation worked in Old English. Instead of using a separate word for "not," Old English speakers would blend "ne" (not) with the verb. So "I don't have" would become "I nave" (ne + have).
This insight into Old English helps us see that the process of blending words is not new. It's a fundamental feature of how languages evolve and create new ways of expressing ideas.
The Impact of Pronunciation on Language Change
Stress Shifts in Words
McWhorter explores how changes in pronunciation, particularly in where we place stress in words, can lead to linguistic change. He uses the example of how verbs often become nouns in English, accompanied by a shift in which syllable is stressed.
For instance, the verb "to suspect" becomes the noun "suspect," with the stress moving from the second syllable to the first. This pattern is consistent across many words in English: "rebel" (verb) becomes "rebel" (noun), "record" (verb) becomes "record" (noun).
McWhorter points out that this shift doesn't happen overnight. He uses a scene from the 1934 film "The Thin Man" to illustrate how the pronunciation of "suspects" was in transition at that time, with the character pronouncing it halfway between the verb and noun forms we use today.
Compound Words and Stress
The author also examines how stress changes when we create compound words. He uses the examples of "black board" (two separate words describing a board that is black) versus "blackboard" (a single word referring to the specific object used in classrooms).
When we say these phrases aloud, we can hear how the stress shifts. In "black board," both words receive equal emphasis. But in "blackboard," the stress is on the first syllable. This shift in stress reflects that the compound word has taken on a more specific meaning than the sum of its parts.
The same principle applies to words like "blackbird." When used as two separate words ("black bird"), it could refer to any bird that happens to be black. But as a compound word with the stress on the first syllable, it refers to a specific species of bird.
These examples demonstrate how subtle changes in pronunciation can signal shifts in meaning, contributing to the ongoing evolution of the language.
The Evolution of "Like"
Historical Changes
McWhorter dedicates significant attention to the word "like," which has been a subject of much discussion (and often criticism) in recent years. He argues that far from being a modern aberration, "like" has been evolving throughout the history of English.
The word originated in Old English as "lic," derived from "gelic" meaning "with the body of." It was initially used to indicate resemblance between things. Over time, it was shortened and began to be absorbed into other words.
McWhorter gives the fascinating example of how "like" became the "-ly" suffix we use to form adverbs. Words like "slowly" originally were phrases like "slow-like." Over time, "like" was reduced to "-ly" and began attaching to all sorts of adjectives, giving us words such as "angrily," "portly," and "saintly."
This history shows that "like" has always been a versatile and adaptable word, taking on new roles as the language evolved.
Modern Usage
Moving to the present day, McWhorter examines the contemporary use of "like" that often draws criticism. He argues that this usage isn't mere filler or a sign of linguistic degradation, but serves a specific communicative purpose.
In the sentence "So there we were and there were, like, grandmothers and grandfathers, and, like, grandkids and cousins all milling about," McWhorter argues that "like" is being used to express the speaker's surprise or sense that the situation was unusual. It draws attention to the unexpected nature of what's being described.
In this way, "like" functions similarly to emoticons or words like "well" and "totally." It adds emotional context to the statement, helping to convey the speaker's attitude or reaction to what they're describing.
McWhorter's analysis of "like" encapsulates his broader argument about language change. What might seem like a modern corruption of proper speech is actually part of a long tradition of linguistic evolution, with words taking on new functions to meet the expressive needs of speakers.
The Richness of Language Change
Throughout "Words on the Move," McWhorter consistently emphasizes that language change is not something to be feared or resisted, but rather appreciated and studied. Each shift in meaning, each new usage, each borrowed word or invented phrase adds to the richness and expressiveness of the language.
He draws our attention to the way language reflects the needs and experiences of its speakers. When new technologies emerge, we create or adapt words to describe them. When social norms change, our language shifts to accommodate new ways of thinking and interacting. When we encounter ideas or objects from other cultures, we often borrow words to describe them.
This process of change and adaptation is what keeps a language vital and relevant. A language that doesn't change is a dead language, unable to serve the evolving needs of its speakers.
McWhorter also highlights how studying these changes can give us insight into history and culture. The way words have shifted in meaning over time can tell us about changes in society, technology, and ways of thinking. The words we borrow from other languages can reveal historical contacts and cultural exchanges.
Embracing Linguistic Evolution
One of the key messages of "Words on the Move" is that we should embrace, rather than resist, linguistic evolution. McWhorter argues against the prescriptivist view that there is one "correct" version of a language that must be preserved at all costs.
Instead, he encourages readers to see language as a living, breathing entity that grows and changes with its users. What might seem like errors or corruptions to one generation are often the accepted norms of the next. Today's slang might be tomorrow's formal speech.
This doesn't mean that anything goes in language use. There are still rules and conventions that allow us to communicate effectively. But these rules are not set in stone. They evolve over time based on how people actually use the language, not on how some authority decrees it should be used.
McWhorter's approach encourages curiosity about language change rather than judgment. Instead of lamenting that people don't speak the way they used to, we can ask why the change occurred and what it tells us about how people are using language to meet their communicative needs.
The Future of English
While "Words on the Move" primarily focuses on how English has changed in the past and is changing in the present, it also gives us tools to think about how it might change in the future.
Given the rapid pace of technological change and global communication, it's likely that English will continue to evolve quickly. We might see more borrowings from other languages as English maintains its role as a global lingua franca. We might see new words and grammatical structures emerge to deal with new concepts and ways of interacting.
The digital age is already having a profound impact on how we use language, from the brevity required by character limits on social media to the rise of emoji and GIFs as communicative tools. As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent, we might see new forms of human-machine communication influencing how we use language.
Whatever changes come, McWhorter's book encourages us to approach them with an open and curious mind. Rather than seeing them as threats to proper English, we can view them as exciting developments in the ongoing story of our language.
Conclusion
"Words on the Move" is a celebration of the dynamic nature of language. Through numerous examples and clear explanations, John McWhorter shows us that change is not just normal in language – it's essential.
From the subtle shifts in word meanings over centuries to the rapid adoption of new terms in the digital age, from the emotional expressiveness of Old English to the nuanced use of "like" by modern speakers, McWhorter demonstrates that English has always been in a state of flux.
This book challenges us to reconsider our assumptions about what constitutes "proper" language use. It encourages us to be more accepting of linguistic diversity and change, seeing them as signs of a healthy, living language rather than as degradation or decay.
Moreover, "Words on the Move" invites us to become more conscious observers of language. By understanding the processes of language change, we can gain deeper insights into how people communicate, how societies evolve, and how we construct meaning in our ever-changing world.
Ultimately, McWhorter's work is not just about linguistics – it's about human creativity, adaptability, and the endless fascination of how we use words to connect with each other and make sense of our experiences. It reminds us that every time we speak or write, we're not just using language – we're participating in its ongoing evolution.