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Can We Help?: Vanishing words: the process of language change

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Can We Help?: Vanishing words: the process of language change

SUBJECTS:  English

YEARS:  9–10


The English language is full of strange contradictions and vanishing words.

Have you ever wondered why we sometimes put words together that contradict each other, such as 'pretty awful' or 'terribly good'? If we can be 'ruthless', can we be 'ruthly' as well?

Watch as Professor Kate Burridge explains these curious irregularities and some of the unusual ways in which our language has changed over time.


Things to think about

  1. 1.Why do we say that something is pretty terrible, or awfully good? Aren't these phrases contradictory? Consider, too, the use of prefixes: if your manners can be impeccable does that mean that others are peccable? If we fixed up these rules, would our language become more wieldy? What other words or phrases can you think of that seem curious or contradictory?
  2. 2.What is meant by an 'intensifier'? List the different meanings for the word 'pretty'. Why does Kate suggest that intensifiers often quickly fall out of fashion? From which language does the word 'ruth' come? What does it mean? Why can one be 'ruthless' but not 'ruthful'?
  3. 3.What does this clip suggest about the way language evolves? Why do you think particular meanings or even entire words get 'forgotten'? Explain how the addition of prefixes can alter the meanings of words.
  4. 4.See if you can find a poem called 'A Very Descript Man' by J H Parker. It is an entertaining poem that uses many forgotten positives; words that only exist with a negative prefix attached. Have a go at writing your own poem or story that uses forgotten positives for humorous effect.



Date of broadcast: 13 Jun 2008


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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