ENG501 GDB solution | Spring 2023 | ENG 501 GDB solution #eng501 #gdb #spring2023

 

ENG501 GDB solution | Spring 2023 | ENG 501 GDB solution

ENG501 GDB solution | Spring 2023

Q: Search the word "Gay", "twitter", "Awful", "Terrific" and "Virus". By conducting a diachronic analysis of the lexical language change of these words using historical dictionaries or online source, differentiate between the meaning of this word use in the old/ Middle vs Modern English.

 

 

Solution:

 

 

Lexical language change of words “Gay", "twitter", "Awful", "Terrific" and "Virus".

 

 

1.    Gay:

 

• Old/Middle English: In Old English, the word "gay" originally meant "light-hearted" or "joyful." It had positive connotations related to happiness and merriment.

 

• Modern English: Over time, the meaning of "gay" has evolved. In modern usage, it commonly refers to someone who identifies as homosexual. This shift in meaning occurred in the 20th century, and the word "gay" has become a widely accepted term for describing sexual orientation.

 

2.    Twitter:

 

• Old/Middle English: The word "Twitter" did not exist in Old or Middle English since the social media platform did not exist during those periods.

 

• Modern English: Twitter is an online social media and social networking service. A social media application where people can post short messages.

 

3.    Awful:

 

• Old/Middle English: In Old English, "awful" meant "worthy of awe or reverence." It conveyed a sense of admiration or respect.

 

• Modern English: The meaning of "awful" has undergone a significant shift. In modern usage, it generally refers to something extremely bad or unpleasant, conveying a strong negative connotation. The original positive sense has been largely lost.

 

4.    Terrific:

 

• Old/Middle English: The word "terrific" had a different meaning in Old and Middle English which meant "causing terror" or "frightening."

 

• Modern English: In modern usage, "terrific" has a positive connotation and is commonly used to describe something excellent, great, or impressive. The shift in meaning occurred over time, and the negative associations with fear or terror have diminished.

 

5.    Virus:

 

• Old/Middle English: The word "virus" did not exist in Old or Middle English since the concept of viruses as we understand them today was not known during those periods. The term "virus" was borrowed from Latin in the 18th century to describe infectious agents.

 

• Modern English: Anything that corrupts or poisons the mind or character; evil or harmful influence.

 

An unauthorized, disruptive set of instructions placed in a computer program, that leaves copies of itself in other programs and disks