What do we call definitions we keep using for objects whose nature has changed?
Is there a name for "definitional drift," meaning a word we've used to define something in the past, but the object of definition has changed over time, yet we keep using the same word?
For example, "phone." Back in the 80s, we had phones that were connected to walls with cords. Phones were...well, phones.
Now, we call the device we carry a "phone," even though it's barely a phone. It's primarily designed to a million things other than make phone calls, and if we list the things we do it by frequency, making or taking a phone call would likely be near the bottom of the list.
This is clearly a thing that happens. Is there a name for it? Can you think of other classic examples of it?
Edit: another example is when we record video on our phone (ha!), we often say we "taped it," or we "have it on tape." But magnetic tape has nothing to do with it anymore.
meaning
asked yesterday
DeaneDeane
32027
add a comment |
Is there a name for "definitional drift," meaning a word we've used to define something in the past, but the object of definition has changed over time, yet we keep using the same word?
For example, "phone." Back in the 80s, we had phones that were connected to walls with cords. Phones were...well, phones.
Now, we call the device we carry a "phone," even though it's barely a phone. It's primarily designed to a million things other than make phone calls, and if we list the things we do it by frequency, making or taking a phone call would likely be near the bottom of the list.
This is clearly a thing that happens. Is there a name for it? Can you think of other classic examples of it?
Edit: another example is when we record video on our phone (ha!), we often say we "taped it," or we "have it on tape." But magnetic tape has nothing to do with it anymore.
meaning
asked yesterday
DeaneDeane
32027
I don't think there is specifically. It's one form of generalisation. It is part of the context in which a retronym gets coined, but I don't know a word for it in that context
– Colin Fine
yesterday
Obsolete is used often to mean this.
– moonstar
yesterday
And (unless pre-set) we stil 'dial' someone's (phone) number.
– dave_thompson_085
yesterday
Your car's dashboard has an interesting history. So does the term computer
– Phil Sweet
23 hours ago
add a comment |
Is there a name for "definitional drift," meaning a word we've used to define something in the past, but the object of definition has changed over time, yet we keep using the same word?
For example, "phone." Back in the 80s, we had phones that were connected to walls with cords. Phones were...well, phones.
Now, we call the device we carry a "phone," even though it's barely a phone. It's primarily designed to a million things other than make phone calls, and if we list the things we do it by frequency, making or taking a phone call would likely be near the bottom of the list.
This is clearly a thing that happens. Is there a name for it? Can you think of other classic examples of it?
Edit: another example is when we record video on our phone (ha!), we often say we "taped it," or we "have it on tape." But magnetic tape has nothing to do with it anymore.
meaning
asked yesterday
DeaneDeane
32027
Is there a name for "definitional drift," meaning a word we've used to define something in the past, but the object of definition has changed over time, yet we keep using the same word?
For example, "phone." Back in the 80s, we had phones that were connected to walls with cords. Phones were...well, phones.
Now, we call the device we carry a "phone," even though it's barely a phone. It's primarily designed to a million things other than make phone calls, and if we list the things we do it by frequency, making or taking a phone call would likely be near the bottom of the list.
This is clearly a thing that happens. Is there a name for it? Can you think of other classic examples of it?
Edit: another example is when we record video on our phone (ha!), we often say we "taped it," or we "have it on tape." But magnetic tape has nothing to do with it anymore.
meaning
meaning
asked yesterday
DeaneDeane
32027
asked yesterday
DeaneDeane
32027
asked yesterday
DeaneDeane
32027
asked yesterday
DeaneDeane
32027
asked yesterday
DeaneDeane
32027
32027
I don't think there is specifically. It's one form of generalisation. It is part of the context in which a retronym gets coined, but I don't know a word for it in that context
– Colin Fine
yesterday
Obsolete is used often to mean this.
– moonstar
yesterday
And (unless pre-set) we stil 'dial' someone's (phone) number.
– dave_thompson_085
yesterday
Your car's dashboard has an interesting history. So does the term computer
– Phil Sweet
23 hours ago
add a comment |
I don't think there is specifically. It's one form of generalisation. It is part of the context in which a retronym gets coined, but I don't know a word for it in that context
– Colin Fine
yesterday
Obsolete is used often to mean this.
– moonstar
yesterday
And (unless pre-set) we stil 'dial' someone's (phone) number.
– dave_thompson_085
yesterday
Your car's dashboard has an interesting history. So does the term computer
– Phil Sweet
23 hours ago
I don't think there is specifically. It's one form of generalisation. It is part of the context in which a retronym gets coined, but I don't know a word for it in that context
– Colin Fine
yesterday
I don't think there is specifically. It's one form of generalisation. It is part of the context in which a retronym gets coined, but I don't know a word for it in that context
– Colin Fine
yesterday
Obsolete is used often to mean this.
– moonstar
yesterday
Obsolete is used often to mean this.
– moonstar
yesterday
And (unless pre-set) we stil 'dial' someone's (phone) number.
– dave_thompson_085
yesterday
And (unless pre-set) we stil 'dial' someone's (phone) number.
– dave_thompson_085
yesterday
Your car's dashboard has an interesting history. So does the term computer
– Phil Sweet
23 hours ago
Your car's dashboard has an interesting history. So does the term computer
– Phil Sweet
23 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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It's a form of semantic drift.
Semantic change (also semantic shift, semantic progression, semantic development, or semantic drift) is the evolution of word usage—usually to the point that the modern meaning is radically different from the original usage.
- wikipedia
In Blank's typology, the semantic drift of phone, for example, looks like it's based on
Metonymy: Change based on contiguity between concepts, e.g., horn "animal horn" → "musical instrument".
- ibid
The meaning of the word "phone" has changed because each stage of the development from voice-call phones to smart phones has retained enough similarity to the previous stage for the name to be broadly recognisable and associated with the new device.
answered yesterday
LawrenceLawrence
31k562108
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1 Answer
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It's a form of semantic drift.
Semantic change (also semantic shift, semantic progression, semantic development, or semantic drift) is the evolution of word usage—usually to the point that the modern meaning is radically different from the original usage.
- wikipedia
In Blank's typology, the semantic drift of phone, for example, looks like it's based on
Metonymy: Change based on contiguity between concepts, e.g., horn "animal horn" → "musical instrument".
- ibid
The meaning of the word "phone" has changed because each stage of the development from voice-call phones to smart phones has retained enough similarity to the previous stage for the name to be broadly recognisable and associated with the new device.
answered yesterday
LawrenceLawrence
31k562108
add a comment |
It's a form of semantic drift.
Semantic change (also semantic shift, semantic progression, semantic development, or semantic drift) is the evolution of word usage—usually to the point that the modern meaning is radically different from the original usage.
- wikipedia
In Blank's typology, the semantic drift of phone, for example, looks like it's based on
Metonymy: Change based on contiguity between concepts, e.g., horn "animal horn" → "musical instrument".
- ibid
The meaning of the word "phone" has changed because each stage of the development from voice-call phones to smart phones has retained enough similarity to the previous stage for the name to be broadly recognisable and associated with the new device.
answered yesterday
LawrenceLawrence
31k562108
add a comment |
It's a form of semantic drift.
Semantic change (also semantic shift, semantic progression, semantic development, or semantic drift) is the evolution of word usage—usually to the point that the modern meaning is radically different from the original usage.
- wikipedia
In Blank's typology, the semantic drift of phone, for example, looks like it's based on
Metonymy: Change based on contiguity between concepts, e.g., horn "animal horn" → "musical instrument".
- ibid
The meaning of the word "phone" has changed because each stage of the development from voice-call phones to smart phones has retained enough similarity to the previous stage for the name to be broadly recognisable and associated with the new device.
answered yesterday
LawrenceLawrence
31k562108
It's a form of semantic drift.
Semantic change (also semantic shift, semantic progression, semantic development, or semantic drift) is the evolution of word usage—usually to the point that the modern meaning is radically different from the original usage.
- wikipedia
In Blank's typology, the semantic drift of phone, for example, looks like it's based on
Metonymy: Change based on contiguity between concepts, e.g., horn "animal horn" → "musical instrument".
- ibid
The meaning of the word "phone" has changed because each stage of the development from voice-call phones to smart phones has retained enough similarity to the previous stage for the name to be broadly recognisable and associated with the new device.
answered yesterday
LawrenceLawrence
31k562108
answered yesterday
LawrenceLawrence
31k562108
answered yesterday
LawrenceLawrence
31k562108
answered yesterday
LawrenceLawrence
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31k562108
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I don't think there is specifically. It's one form of generalisation. It is part of the context in which a retronym gets coined, but I don't know a word for it in that context
– Colin Fine
yesterday
Obsolete is used often to mean this.
– moonstar
yesterday
And (unless pre-set) we stil 'dial' someone's (phone) number.
– dave_thompson_085
yesterday
Your car's dashboard has an interesting history. So does the term computer
– Phil Sweet
23 hours ago