Introduction
Summary of the Book Words on the Move by John McWhorter Before we proceed, let’s look into a brief overview of the book. English isn’t just a set of rules carved into stone. It’s a living, breathing language that never stops moving. Over centuries, English has welcomed strangers, borrowed their words, softened its tone, changed meanings, rearranged stresses, blended old expressions, and created new ones. Words have become emotional bridges, punctuation marks have shifted their roles, and everyday phrases have turned into warm invitations rather than dry statements. From emoticons to unexpected uses of like, what seems new and odd today might be normal tomorrow. By exploring how English has always embraced change, we understand that our language doesn’t weaken by evolving—it grows stronger, more flexible, and richer. Just as human hearts adapt to new feelings and minds absorb fresh ideas, English continues its grand journey, always ready for what comes next.
Chapter 1: How Everyday Language Quietly Carries Deep Emotional Currents Across Centuries.
Imagine you are sitting in a busy café, listening to people talk. You’ll notice that not only do people share information, but they also share how they feel. Often, these feelings are revealed through tiny words and sounds that we barely notice. Yet, these small words can be powerful emotional tools. They let us show doubt, kindness, surprise, or patience. For instance, consider the word well. Today, we might say, Well, I guess it’s time to go, as a way of softening the force of what we say. Instead of barking a direct It’s time to go, the gentle well makes the statement feel friendlier. This tiny word adds a layer of understanding and empathy to ordinary conversation. But what’s truly amazing is that using words to show feelings is not something that just began yesterday or last year.
If we travel back in time to the Dark Ages—around a thousand years ago—people already mixed feelings into their language. Words back then might have looked different on paper, but their speakers still found ways to communicate attitudes and emotions. From Old English, spelled in puzzling ways and spoken with accents we’d find strange, to modern English bursting with slang, the emotional core of human speech remains surprisingly stable. Even though medieval artists like Giotto rarely painted individuals with deeply personal emotions, daily speech was busy doing just that. People used words not only to talk about kings, castles, or church matters but also to express surprise, delight, doubt, or understanding. While art took centuries to highlight personal feelings, language has been doing it all along, shaping how we connect as humans.
The word well is just one example among many. Trying to explain well to a child can be tricky. It doesn’t fit neatly into a definition like cat into speech, we soften our messages. This is not new; it’s an age-old part of English. Across the centuries, English speakers have used many words this way, making their language not just about facts and events but also about human warmth, politeness, and gentle correction. The emotional seasoning sprinkled into everyday words proves that language is not just a tool, but also a rich stage for human feelings.
Understanding how emotion and language fit together helps us see why change in speech is natural. Just as emotions are never still—people’s moods shift, opinions alter, and new feelings appear—words also evolve to keep pace with these changes. In medieval times, certain words expressed attitudes that might now feel outdated or odd. Over time, many words vanished, and new ones took their place, serving fresh emotional purposes. Think of language as a living garden. Emotions are like the soil and water that keep it fertile. Words sprout, bloom, then wither, replaced by new growth. This constant renewal ensures that no matter what century we live in, we will always have words to show when we care, when we doubt, when we’re excited, or when we want to gently correct someone else.
Chapter 2: How Emoticons and Modern Texting Breathe Emotional Warmth into Written Words.
Today, we often chat through screens. We send messages across tiny digital letters that fly through the internet, often popping up on someone’s phone halfway around the world. Before smartphones and texting, writing felt more stiff and formal. Letters were serious, emails tended to be neat and businesslike, and faxes contained dry, technical details. But texting changed the game. Suddenly, we found ourselves writing the way we speak—fast, casual, and personal. Yet there was a problem: typed words lack the tone, facial expressions, and gentle laughter found in spoken conversation. That’s where emoticons and emojis come in. They’re like friendly little drawings that show how we feel. A smiley face can soften a message and ensure people know we’re joking or smiling, not frowning or annoyed.
Emoticons—like a simple 🙂 or a wink ;)—help bridge a gap. Before these tiny symbols came along, written text seemed cold. But now, a short text message can feel as warm as spoken words. When someone texts, See you soon! with a smiley face at the end, it feels welcoming. Without it, See you soon might appear too brief or possibly unfriendly. These emotional signals matter because they help us not misunderstand each other. The fear that emoticons might replace words entirely is overblown. Think about it: a message made only of smiley faces cannot explain complex ideas or give detailed instructions. Emoticons are helpers, not masters. They add emotional seasoning to our digital chatter, making our typed conversations more human, more personal, and far less robotic.
But emoticons aren’t the only words that carry feelings. Certain English words have always done this job, though in subtle ways. Consider totally, like, or well. These words don’t just give information; they show an emotional stance. Totally can express strong agreement or enthusiasm. Like often adds a touch of uncertainty or personal feeling to a statement. Words like these have existed in various forms for centuries in English, as well as in other languages. German has mal to soften requests; Japanese uses ne at the end of sentences to add a sense of shared understanding. These words, much like emoticons today, do emotional work. They show that language, old or new, never ignores the human heart. It always finds small ways to show feelings.
We live in a world flooded with devices and quick messages. As a result, language evolves to suit this new environment. Emoticons, emojis, and casual speech forms have arisen because we need to express our thoughts quickly and warmly—even through a screen. Instead of harming the language, this actually continues a long tradition. English has always absorbed new forms and turned them into normal usage. Just as once people feared that telephone calls would ruin proper speech, some people today worry that emojis or emoticons threaten the purity of written English. But in reality, these symbols are simply part of the language’s ongoing journey. They add color, emotion, and immediacy, making our written words feel more alive and more connected to the way we actually feel inside.
Chapter 3: How Common Words Slowly Shift Their Meanings Over the Centuries.
Language is never frozen in time. Consider what happens if you read very old texts in English. Words pop up that still look familiar, but their meanings may feel slightly off. For example, imagine traveling back to the 1700s and offering someone a tasty treat. If you said, Would you like a chocolate éclair? and they replied, No, I’m reducing, you might be puzzled. Back then, reducing could mean going on a diet. This is just one tiny example of how meanings drift. Today, we take for granted that reduce has more to do with making things smaller, not specifically watching our waistlines. Over time, social changes, new inventions, and evolving attitudes all tug at words, pulling their meanings in fresh directions. It’s a quiet but powerful process shaping English daily.
If some words keep their original meaning for thousands of years—like brother or I—these are rare exceptions. Most words wander over time. In Shakespeare’s day, science meant general knowledge, not just laboratory experiments. Meanwhile, hound once meant any dog, and dog referred only to a certain big, fierce type of canine. As history marched on, dog became the general term, and hound a more specialized one. This shows how words can swap places, broaden or narrow, and change shades of meaning. Sometimes these changes happen so slowly that people hardly notice. Over decades and centuries, what was once unusual becomes the norm. Words might lose old meanings, gain new ones, or twist into something else entirely. This slow drift proves that language is an ongoing story, always in motion.
A good example of meaning shifts is the word innumerable. Today, it means something like too many to count. But in earlier times, it included the idea that what you were describing was completely beyond counting, perhaps because it was not something you’d count at all. Over time, the sense that innumerable referred to something uncountable—like emotions or intangible qualities—faded, and it now simply means a huge number of something. This might sound minor, but it highlights how words are shaped by how people actually use them. If everyone starts applying a word to mean a lot, eventually that becomes the accepted definition. Dictionaries record these shifts after they happen. The living language moves first, guided by its speakers, and then the official definitions follow along behind.
If you think of language as a grand old house, words are like the furniture. Over centuries, people rearrange this furniture, replace old chairs with new ones, and move decorations from one room to another. At any given moment, some pieces might stay put for centuries—just like brother—while others, like reduce or innumerable, are shifted about. Sometimes, brand-new words come knocking at the door. Other times, old words slip quietly away, rarely used and nearly forgotten. Understanding that this constant movement of meanings is normal helps us relax about modern changes. When we see young people using words differently than their grandparents, it’s just one more chapter in a long story. Instead of fearing that language is getting worse, we can appreciate its adaptability and resilience over time.
Chapter 4: From Actions to Things: How Verbs Turn Into Nouns and Find New Meanings.
English is a flexible language. One fascinating way it shows this flexibility is by turning verbs—words that describe actions—into nouns—words that name things or ideas. Picture yourself in a modern business meeting. Someone might say, What’s the ask here? or Do we have a solve for that? At first glance, ask and solve sound a bit strange as nouns. We are used to ask being something you do (a verb) and solution being the noun form for solve. But English speakers often like shortcuts. Turning ask into a noun feels more direct and urgent than saying What’s the request? It’s more businesslike, more focused. This change also suggests that English does not rely heavily on word endings to show if something is a noun or a verb.
In many other languages, verbs and nouns look clearly different. For example, in French, verbs often end in -er, and nouns have their own forms. This difference makes it harder to flip a verb into a noun. But English gives words more freedom to change roles. Consider everyday words like walk or scratch. We say, She had a scratch on her arm or He has a funny walk, without even noticing that scratch and walk started out as verbs. This easy switching shows how English can bend and reshape words without causing confusion. Instead of strict rules, English gives us flexibility, making it possible for us to be creative. This is part of the language’s secret power: it constantly refashions itself to fit new situations and needs.
But when verbs become nouns, they often grow new meanings. Ask as a noun is not exactly the same as a request. A request might sound polite and formal, while ask has a punchy, businesslike feel. It suggests a clear challenge or problem to be solved. This subtle shift in meaning happens because speakers and writers mold words to fit certain environments. In a tough corporate setting, you need language that feels direct. Just as new gadgets enter our lives, new word forms enter our speech. Sometimes they stay for a while and become normal; other times they fade away. Over decades, the English language’s collection of nouns born from verbs increases, showing how inventiveness is not just about creating entirely new words, but also about reshaping the ones we already have.
This flexibility might feel strange if you think language should be rigid and unchanging. But consider how this adaptation mirrors real life. As the world changes—new technologies emerge, fresh ideas spread, different groups interact—language must keep up. If English were locked in place, it would struggle to describe new realities. Instead, by allowing verbs to become nouns and gain fresh meanings, English stays relevant. This is true for words old and new, from Shakespeare’s time to today’s texting teens. It’s not about being correct or incorrect; it’s about serving the needs of the people using the language. The ability to recast words in new roles is part of English’s great strength. It has survived and thrived through countless generations, always finding new ways to say what matters.
Chapter 5: The Surprising Journey of the Exclamation Mark Through Changing Cultural Influences.
Once upon a time, the exclamation mark , punctuation marks have their own histories. The exclamation mark, in particular, has gone through a kind of inflation, where using just one doesn’t feel strong enough. Now, people pile them up—Thank you!!!—to show extra enthusiasm. Instead of being a marker for big surprises, the exclamation mark has become a friendly signal that we care about what we’re saying, and that we’re engaging warmly with the person reading our message.
How did this happen? In part, it’s because we communicate so frequently in writing these days. Quick emails and texts can feel cold if we don’t show friendliness. Without face-to-face contact, our words might seem flat. By adding an exclamation mark, we reassure others that we’re paying attention and that we’re not upset, bored, or ignoring them. This usage mirrors certain cultural habits, too. In some places, it’s normal to begin a letter by exclaiming a friend’s name, showing cheerfulness. In the mid-20th century, comic strips also played a role, stuffing conversations with exclamation points to bring scenes alive. Over time, readers absorbed these patterns, and what once was special now seems ordinary.
As more people began writing informally—on social media, chat apps, comment sections—the exclamation mark spread like wildfire. Older generations sometimes find this odd. They remember a time when an exclamation mark was reserved for strong emotion. But younger users have grown up in a digital world where the difference between texting See you later. and See you later! feels huge. The former can come across as rude or uninterested, while the latter feels warmer. The changing purpose of the exclamation mark reflects a broader lesson: language use always adapts to new circumstances. Our increasing written interactions force punctuation to pick up some of the emotional signals that speech and body language once carried effortlessly.
Over centuries, English borrowed words from other languages, invented new terms, and changed old ones. Why should punctuation be different? It, too, responds to social pressures and communication needs. The exclamation mark’s modern role—signaling friendliness rather than sheer surprise—makes sense in a world where people often meet online before meeting in person. It’s a quick and easy way to ensure that short messages don’t feel blunt or cold. Like a friendly handshake or a nod, the exclamation mark now says, I’m present, I care about what I’m saying, and I value your time. Understanding this lets us see punctuation not as a fixed code of strict rules, but as another living element in the grand adventure of language change.
Chapter 6: Word Blends: How English Loves to Mix and Match to Invent Fresh Terms.
English is a creative language, happy to join two words together to form a brand-new one. These blends aren’t rare decorations; they’re everywhere. Think of brunch might seem modern, but English has been blending words for centuries. Language is like a toy box, and speakers combine pieces to make something new and useful. Sometimes these creations stick around, and we forget they were ever invented. Other times, they fade away, remembered only by language historians. This blend-making process shows that English isn’t content to sit still; it wants to shape fresh words whenever it needs them, responding to new inventions, cultural shifts, or humorous twists in how people talk and write.
Not all blends survive. In the 1950s, people tried calling certain school halls cafetoriums reappear when circumstances change. Take staycation thrive. If people find a blended word useful, it can return from the language attic and become popular again, proving that no word is ever truly dead.
Blending words isn’t just a modern game. Old English also combined elements freely. Understanding how this happened long ago can help us decode ancient forms of our language. For instance, Old English formed negative statements by tacking on small bits to words. Over time, these elements merged with other words, producing blends that would seem strange to us. Such historical blending reminds us that English was never pure or stable. It constantly gathered pieces, wove them together, and created new linguistic threads. By studying these patterns, we can glimpse the flexibility of early English and realize that what we do today with words—like blog (web + log) or email (electronic + mail)—isn’t a radical break. It’s just a continuation of a very old story.
Blended words show how English evolves to meet people’s changing needs. When a new invention appears, we often name it by merging known terms. As technology marches forward, we create blends to keep pace with what’s happening around us. This process helps English remain vibrant and practical. Rather than sticking to outdated words, it snaps together neat combinations that people instantly understand. Over time, these blends either become household staples or vanish without a trace, depending on how useful they are. In this sense, English is like a living laboratory of words. Anyone can coin a fresh blend, and if it resonates with others, it may spread far and wide. In doing so, English proves that it isn’t rigid but open, inventive, and always ready to innovate.
Chapter 7: Shifting Accents: How the Way We Stress Words Shapes Their Meanings.
Pronunciation changes can be subtle but powerful forces in language evolution. Consider the word suspect. As a verb, it’s to susPECT—the stress falls on the last syllable. But as a noun, it’s SUSpect—the stress now lands on the first syllable. This shift in emphasis signals a change in how we treat the word. When it’s a verb, it’s an action: you suspect someone. When it’s a noun, it’s a thing: the person is a suspect. Such stress changes are not rare, and they help English speakers distinguish the roles words play. At times, we catch languages mid-change, noticing older speakers and younger ones putting stress on different parts of words. Watching a classic old movie, you might hear an old-fashioned pronunciation that reveals a word in transition.
This shifting stress pattern isn’t random. It often appears when English transforms verbs into nouns or adjectives. The move of stress to the front syllable can alert listeners that the word now serves a new function. Record, rebel, and convert show the same pattern. As verbs, we say to reCORD, to reBEL, and to conVERT, emphasizing the action. As nouns, we say REcord, REBel, and CONvert, focusing on the object or person described. Over time, these patterns become standard, and everyone knows that a REcord is the thing you keep in a file, while to reCORD means the action of writing something down or capturing sound. Such stress-based signals within words are another layer of meaning-making that English speakers use instinctively.
Stress changes also affect how we understand compound words. Think of blackboard. If you say black board, it might mean any board painted black. But if you say BLACKboard, it refers specifically to the old-style chalkboard found in classrooms. Stress changes guide us, helping us recognize when two words combine into a single concept rather than just describing one another. The same goes for blackbird versus black bird. The first is a specific type of bird, while the second can be any bird with black feathers. Over centuries, these tiny shifts in emphasis shape how new terms are formed and understood. Sometimes, half a syllable’s difference in stress is enough to transform a phrase into an official word with its own identity.
These subtle clues embedded in pronunciation show that language is more than vocabulary lists and grammar rules. The music of speech—where we raise or lower our voice—gives listeners hints about meaning. It’s like a secret code that helps us navigate the changing landscape of English. As words take on new roles, their stress patterns adjust to help us catch the difference. This is not a sign of language breaking, but rather of it adapting to serve our needs. Much like plants lean toward the sun, words lean and shift their sound shape toward clarity and usefulness. By noticing these changes, we understand that English growth doesn’t just happen in dictionaries. It lives in our voices, shaping how we share knowledge and ideas every single day.
Chapter 8: The Living Journey of Like: A Single Word’s Many Transformations.
Like is one of the most talked-about words in modern English, often criticized by those who think it’s simply filler. But if we take a closer look, we see that like has a rich, winding history. Long ago, like came from older forms meaning similar to or with the body of. Over centuries, it changed shape and usage, shrinking into a short, flexible piece of language. At different times, people have used like to show comparison, to introduce examples, or to signal a relaxed tone. In recent decades, like also began popping up in conversation to show a speaker’s attitude, uncertainty, or personal take on something. Far from being pointless, it helps fill the gaps between pure facts and the softer, more emotional sides of communication.
Imagine you’re telling a friend about a surprising scene at the park: There were, like, so many families, and, like, grandparents and kids everywhere! Each like here emphasizes your astonishment. It turns a plain description into an emotional, subjective one. Like says, I’m telling you this felt unusual to me, and I want you to feel my surprise too. Rather than weakening your message, it paints it with personality. In the same way that well or totally add flavor to speech, like helps show that language isn’t just about stating facts. It’s a tool for shaping how listeners feel about those facts. For centuries, English has welcomed words that serve this purpose, and like is simply the latest in a long line of emotional signposts.
Critics may argue that like ruins the language, but history proves that English doesn’t break easily. It bends, flexes, and adapts. Words like like that carry emotional weight have always existed in some form. They’re essential for letting speakers connect personally with their listeners. Just as old-fashioned words once signaled politeness or respect, today’s usage of like signals informality, friendliness, and shared feelings. Over time, people might use it differently or develop new expressions, and like may evolve yet again. This ongoing transformation is part of the grand tradition of English. What matters is that people understand each other and find the right tools to express their hearts, not just their minds.
The story of like reminds us that language is not a museum piece. It’s more like a stream, flowing and carving new paths as it moves. Younger speakers, influenced by media, friends, and cultural changes, find that like suits their need to communicate personal reactions quickly. This doesn’t mean older, more formal ways disappear completely. Instead, language grows richer, offering more options. Listening carefully to how like is used helps us appreciate the complexity of ordinary speech. Language is more than grammar tests and dictionary definitions; it’s a social tool. Words like like keep English fresh and versatile. Over centuries, as English continues to change, we’ll see other words take on similar roles, proving that the language’s heart—the need to express human feelings—remains steady.
Chapter 9: Borrowed and Shared: How Global Influences Help Shape English’s Changing Face.
English doesn’t evolve in isolation. Throughout history, it has borrowed words from dozens of other languages—French, Latin, Spanish, German, Hindi, Chinese, and more. Each borrowed word carries the flavor of its original culture. This constant exchange is like a potluck dinner where everyone brings a dish. Over centuries, English absorbed and reshaped these imports, making them feel native. This openness is a major reason English changes so fast. As English speakers traveled, conquered, traded, and befriended new peoples, they brought back fresh vocabulary that blended into their speech. This mixing wasn’t just about objects, but also about ideas, attitudes, and yes, even emotional expressions. Today’s English is a grand tapestry, woven from countless threads contributed by people from all around the world.
Globalization has accelerated these changes. The internet makes it easy for someone in Europe to watch a video from Korea, pick up a slang term, and start using it with friends. Within days, that word might spread across continents. New music, movies, and trends introduce words that may first seem strange but soon sound normal. This global flow ensures that English never gets too comfortable. Instead, it’s always adapting, adding new flavors. Local dialects in regions where English isn’t even the first language can feed back into global English. The language becomes a living record of human contact and cultural blending. Each borrowed word or phrase carries a bit of history and emotion, reflecting the moments when people reached across borders and shared parts of their lives.
Consider how English speakers now use words like emoji, originally a Japanese term. Once unknown outside Japan, emoji now appears in English dictionaries. Or think about tsunami, paparazzi, or robot, all words that entered English from other languages and adapted to its sound and grammar. This pattern continues with newer words traveling faster than ever. Sometimes these words keep their original meaning; other times they shift as they settle into English. As people play with these words, they might gain emotional connotations that didn’t exist before. Over time, what was once exotic becomes common. This cultural mixing doesn’t just expand vocabulary. It shows that language growth is a product of human curiosity and openness.
By understanding that English borrows from everywhere, we see that there’s no single, pure form of English to protect. Instead, there are countless Englishes—British, American, Australian, Indian, Nigerian—all contributing unique vocabulary, tones, and rhythms. Some terms that started in small communities may rise to worldwide fame. Others may fade back into local use. This global input ensures English remains flexible and responsive, able to capture modern life’s complexity. Each borrowed word brings not just a meaning but a cultural story, an emotional nuance, or a humorous twist. As English continues to evolve, global influences ensure that it never stagnates. Language thus serves as a bridge, connecting people and ideas across lands and centuries, inviting everyone to take part in shaping how we express ourselves.
Chapter 10: Looking Ahead: The Ever-Evolving Nature of English and Its Endless Possibilities.
What will English sound like a hundred years from now? We can’t predict all the details, but we do know that it won’t remain the same. Just as Shakespeare wouldn’t recognize much of our speech today, future speakers might find our habits old-fashioned. Technology may introduce new modes of expression. Global warming, space travel, virtual reality, or breakthroughs in science might require fresh terms. Cultural shifts—new forms of art, music, entertainment—will spark new slang. Social media trends might last decades or vanish in months, leaving traces in the words we use. Through it all, English will keep absorbing, reshaping, and bending to the needs of its speakers. Nothing stays still in language; it’s always on the move, mirroring our restless, exploring minds.
We might see entirely new punctuation marks or even more creative ways to show tone in writing. Perhaps new blends, emojis, or symbolic signs will emerge. Artificial intelligence tools might influence how we communicate, suggesting words or even coining new phrases. English may pick up patterns from languages that gain influence on the global stage. Maybe words from African, Asian, or indigenous languages will become household terms worldwide. No one can say for sure, but the spirit of openness that English has displayed for centuries will guide its future. While some people worry these changes erode clarity, others recognize that growth keeps a language alive. The key point is that English is not fragile; it’s dynamic, able to adapt to any changes society throws at it.
If this sounds chaotic, remember that this evolution makes English flexible and useful. By constantly changing, it can handle new concepts and reflect shifting values. If a word feels outdated or offensive, English speakers can find or invent a better one. If technology demands clearer, quicker expressions, new terms will appear. This adaptability is why English thrives globally. Non-native speakers add their own twists, and children grow up inventing slang their parents wouldn’t understand. This endless cycle keeps English in sync with the real world. Instead of seeing change as decay, we can view it as rejuvenation. Just as old forests give way to new growth, old speech patterns give way to new ones, ensuring that English remains a vivid, living force far into the future.
So as we look forward, we can embrace the idea that English will continue to be a language of emotion, invention, borrowing, blending, and shifting. Words may come and go, meanings may rise and fall, and punctuation may dance in new patterns. But the heart of the language—the need to communicate our thoughts, feelings, and experiences—will remain steady. Each generation leaves its mark on English, just as previous generations shaped the words we use today. Rather than fear these changes, we can celebrate them as evidence that our language is still healthy and strong. The real constant in English isn’t any fixed rule or perfect dictionary entry; it’s the never-ending flow of change that makes it so lively, versatile, and human.
All about the Book
Explore the dynamic evolution of language in ‘Words on the Move’ by John McWhorter. This insightful book delves into the exciting ways words transform and adapt, offering a fresh perspective on linguistics and cultural change.
John McWhorter is a renowned linguist and author, celebrated for his engaging insights into language and its cultural significance, bringing fresh perspectives to the field of linguistics.
Linguists, Educators, Writers, Cultural Anthropologists, Communications Professionals
Language Learning, Reading Literature, Cultural Studies, Writing Poetry, Blogging about Language
Language Evolution, Cultural Identity, Communication Barriers, The Influence of Technology on Language
Language is the ultimate expression of humanity’s creativity; it evolves just as we do.
Malcolm Gladwell, Bill Gates, Steve Pinker
Best Linguistics Book 2018, National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist, American Library Association Notable Book
1. How does language evolve over time and culture? #2. What role do social factors play in language change? #3. Why is linguistic diversity important in society? #4. How do slang and jargon influence communication? #5. What is the impact of technology on language? #6. How do dialects reflect community identity and values? #7. What can loanwords tell us about cultural exchange? #8. How does language shape our perception of reality? #9. In what ways do grammatical structures change? #10. How do historical events drive language transformation? #11. What is the significance of etymology in language studies? #12. How do children contribute to linguistic innovation? #13. Why are prescriptive rules often challenged in language? #14. What is the relationship between language and power? #15. How do personal experiences shape language use? #16. How does code-switching reflect social dynamics? #17. What role does language play in shaping thought? #18. How do idiomatic expressions enrich communication? #19. Why should we embrace language change rather than resist? #20. How can understanding language evolution enhance empathy?
Words on the Move, John McWhorter, Linguistics, Language evolution, Language change, Sociolinguistics, Etymology, Word origins, Language trends, Modern English, Cultural linguistics, Language and society
https://www.amazon.com/Words-Move-John-McWhorter/dp/0143123810
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