Examples

• Jazz, juke, shake, punk, rock n' roll

  Had sexual connotations until they made their way to mainstream culture
• (1/2) 14th Century

  • "Girls" referred to young person of any gender
  • Denotes to young females now
  • Males: "Knave girls"
  • Females: "Gay girls"
• (2/2) 14th century


  Gay:

  • "Gay girls" to refer to females
  • Referred to anything bright and merry
  • Now, synonym for cultural expression of homosexuality
• Pejoration of words


  • "Dame" is seen as vulgar to the lower class
  • Also considered as a compliment
  • "Gorgeous dame"
  • Honorary title "Dame Judith Dench" - British actress
• Post Reagan Era


  • (Pejoration) Conservative politicians worked to redefine "liberal" from meaning neutral to negative
  • in abortion debates see words like "Choice"/"Life" as positive or negative depending on their positions
• Propaganda in language


  Violence is "justified" through language

  "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter"
• Amelioration


  Words becoming more socially acceptable

  "Pissed off" - taboo language more commonly used
• 'Awful'

  Pejorated

  • 1300 - Worthy of fear/respect
  • 2025 - Very bad or unpleasant
• 'Cunning'


  Pejorated

  • Early 14th century - skillful in possessing knowledge
  • Now - Sly, clever, deceptive
• 'Passion'

  Amelioration

  • Old French - physical suffering
  • English - Love, dedication
• 'Fond'

  Amelioration

  • 14th century - derranged/insane
  • Now - Devotion, admiring
• English consists of:

  • Latin and Greek (ink horning)
  • Hindi
  • French
  • Nahuatl (Mexican)
  • etc.