Description
Book SynopsisThe transformation of words over time
The English language has evolved with history, and vocabulary changes have coincided with historic changes. Words in Time: A Social History of English Vocabulary traces how the meanings of English words have changed along with social transformations. The book lets you follow words that represented eras in British history, the emergence of capitalism, and the evolution of democracy. See examples of how printing and mass media have generated changes in language at a remarkable rate, as well as how words are used to advance political propaganda.
Table of Contents
Introduction - words and social change; words of conquest and status - the semantic legacy of the middle ages; moneyed words - the growth of capitalism; mobilization of words - printing, the Reformation and the Renaissance; the fourth estate - journalism; advertising - linguistic capitalism and wordsmithing; words and power - democracy and language; ideology and propaganda; conclusion - verbicide and semantic engineering.
