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by armada651
1272 days ago
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> So by using this language, even when we are not thinking about it, we end up perpetuating these hidden assumptions. It's definitely interesting to learn about the history behind the words we use. However words like these have long since lost their original meaning. I fail to see how it can perpetuate an assumption about the Vandals if most people don't even realize the word was originally referring to a group of people. Too much emphasis is placed these days on the words we use rather than the idea we're attempting to get across. I understand that you feel a personal connection with the Vandals. But you can take comfort in the fact that nobody who uses that word in its current meaning is speaking ill of the Vandals as a people. And it gives you an opportunity to educate people about the history behind that word and the important lesson about hubris that we should learn from it. Because despite the negative connentation the word now has, wouldn't erasing the word from our language be another step towards forgetting about the Vandals and their history? |
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I feel I'm getting entangled in a discussion I'm not really a part of. I'm not a prescriptivist, I don't really care that much about the direction most of the language takes. I know it's alive; it has its own ways; it will change continuously despite all the efforts some may put behind keeping it in this or that way.
My point was just that it's a bit sad how what was nothing more than a prejudice, and an very biased one, got 'normalized' without us even being aware of it now.
And yes, your point is pretty valid.
> But you can take comfort in the fact that nobody who uses that word in its current meaning is speaking ill of the Vandals as a people.
That being quite true, that also shows how we are not really paying attention how language has been shaped by ideologies/prejudices/biases. In a way, it's also comforting to know that despite the way ideologues/those with prejudice try to shape our minds, all that gets silenced in the long run. Language has a life of its own.
> Because despite the negative connentation the word now has, wouldn't erasing the word from our language be another step towards forgetting about the Vandals and their history?
Well, one thing's for sure: no Vandal will feel vandalized by the historical vandalism of calling someone a vandal. May they all rest in peace.
Once again, thanks a lot for engaging. Your comments have been insightful. I really appreciate that.