English Language Arts
Grade 10
15 min
Explore words with new or contested usages
Explore words with new or contested usages
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify words with new or contested usages in contemporary texts and media.
Analyze the etymological and social factors that contribute to a word's changing meaning.
Evaluate the rhetorical effect of using a contested word in different contexts (e.g., formal vs. informal).
Articulate a well-reasoned argument for or against the adoption of a new word or usage into Standard English.
Research the history of a contested word using digital archives and style guides (e.g., OED, AP Stylebook).
Differentiate between prescriptivism and descriptivism in linguistics.
Apply an understanding of contested usage to their own writing, making conscious and defensible word choices.
Ever used the word 'literally' to mean 'figuratively' and had so...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
NeologismA newly coined word or expression that is in the process of entering common use, but has not yet been fully accepted into mainstream language.'Doomscrolling,' meaning the act of spending an excessive amount of time on a screen absorbing negative news.
Semantic ShiftThe evolution of a word's meaning over time. A word's meaning can broaden, narrow, or shift to something entirely different.The word 'awful' originally meant 'full of awe' or 'awe-inspiring' but has shifted to mean 'very bad' or 'terrible.'
Contested UsageA word or phrase whose meaning, spelling, or grammatical function is disputed by a significant number of people.Using 'they' as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun is...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Context is King Principle
Meaning and appropriateness are determined by context (Audience, Purpose, Setting).
Before using or analyzing a contested word, always consider who you are communicating with, what your goal is, and where the communication is taking place. A word acceptable on social media may be inappropriate in a formal research paper.
The Etymological Research Method
Trace a word's history to understand its present.
To form a strong argument about a word's usage, research its etymology (origin) and track its semantic shifts over time using resources like the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). This provides evidence beyond personal opinion.
The Style Guide Check
Consult authoritative style guides for formal writing.
For academic, journalistic,...
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Challenging
A committee is updating a company's formal style guide. One member argues: 'We must forbid the use of 'they' as a singular pronoun. Its etymological root is plural, and to use it otherwise is to ignore centuries of grammatical truth and invite chaos.' Which combination of concepts and fallacies best describes this argument?
A.descriptivist approach combined with the 'Context is King' Principle.
B.prescriptivist attitude combined with the Etymological Fallacy and a disregard for historical precedent.
C.neologistic perspective that embraces the 'It's Not a Real Word' Fallacy.
D.An analysis of connotation that correctly applies the Style Guide Check.
Challenging
The word 'literally' has undergone a semantic shift where its secondary, contested meaning is now as an intensifier (e.g., 'I was literally dying of laughter'). Which statement provides the most sophisticated, descriptivist analysis of this phenomenon?
A.The word 'literally' has been ruined by incorrect usage and should only be used to mean 'in a literal sense.'
B.The new meaning of 'literally' is a neologism that should be avoided in all formal contexts.
C.The word 'literally' has become a contronym—a word with two opposite meanings—and its appropriateness is now entirely dictated by the 'Context is King' principle.
D.The Etymological Fallacy proves that the new meaning of 'literally' is invalid and will soon disappear from the language.
Challenging
Imagine you are a lexicographer for the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). A new word, 'rizz' (meaning 'style, charm, or attractiveness'), has gained widespread use online. Based on a descriptivist approach, what is the strongest justification for adding it to the dictionary?
A.The word is grammatically perfect and follows all traditional rules of English word formation.
B.panel of language experts has formally approved the word as 'correct' and beneficial to the language.
C.There is extensive, sustained evidence of its use across various contexts, and it has a consistent, understood meaning.
D.The word's etymology can be traced back to a classical Latin or Greek root, giving it historical legitimacy.
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