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E_B_Jamisen t1_j6nbrag wrote

This is why I love language. it's not owned by one person. its not controlled (even though so many try). its always changing always growing.

my favorite right now is how the word literal is changing to mean the exact opposite. So many people are losing their minds over the idea that people use the word "literal" to give emphasis to something figurative.

but it has happened before. if something was kinda cool, it had 'some awe' i.e. it was "awesome". but if it was full of awe it was "awefull" I dont know the progression of that word but somebody probably starting using it sarcastically ... "oh that is awe-full" and eventually it changed from being full of awe to being horrible.

Language is chaotic neutral.

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LiamTheHuman t1_j6oexey wrote

what I don't get is that the way 'literal' gives emphasis was through hyperbole. Changing the definition has actually destroyed that use of the word. So people use it that way and I am literally stuck in an endless loop of logic.

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