The Semantic Evolution of the Word 'Jerk' from Stupidity to Obnoxiousness
By
aspenmayer
Kettled twice. Extra chewy, extra trustworthy.
Summary
This article examines the semantic shift of the word "jerk" from its original meaning of "stupid person" to its current connotation of "obnoxious or unpleasant person." It references linguist Ben Zimmer's analysis and uses the 1979 Steve Martin film "The Jerk" as a case study, noting that the protagonist Navin represents the older definition of a naive, ignorant person rather than the modern understanding of someone intentionally cruel or intolerant.
Key quotes
· 3 pulled"Navin is oblivious, not obnoxious. He's ignorant, not intolerant. He's naive, not intentionally cruel."
"There's definitely been a semantic shift in 'jerk' over the years," says linguist, lexicographer, and Wall Street Journal language columnist Ben Zimmer.
He's a bumpkin, a rube, and a moron, maybe, but a jerk? For the most part, no, I wouldn't say so.
You might also wanna read
Lost Medieval English Pronouns: Exploring 'Wit' and the Dual Form for Intimacy
The article explores lost medieval English pronouns, particularly the dual form 'wit' meaning 'we two' in Old English, which was used to des
bbc.com·1mo ago
Understanding Grammatical Gender: Why Nouns Have Gender in Some Languages
This article explains the concept of grammatical gender in languages, addressing why nouns are classified as 'male' and 'female' in language
Duolingo·2mo ago
Exploring the Historical Origins of Japanese Loanwords (Gairaigo)
The article explores the origins and nature of Japanese loanwords (gairaigo), explaining how Japanese has incorporated words from various la
Duolingo·4mo ago
Understanding Endangered Languages: Why Identifying the Least Spoken Languages Is Complex
This article from Duolingo's advice column explores the complex issue of identifying the world's least spoken languages, explaining why it's
Duolingo·5mo ago
Understanding the Difference Between Dialects and Accents in Language
This educational article from Duolingo's advice column explains the differences between dialects and accents in language. It clarifies that
Duolingo·6mo ago
The Universal Nature of Slang: Why All Languages Develop Informal Expressions
This article explores the universal nature of slang across languages, examining why slang exists, its functions in communication, and why it
Duolingo·6mo ago