by MULRAH
UnknownParkerBrother wrote:
MULRAH wrote:
Who is more ignorant: those who don't know their etymology or those who continue to use a word despite its clearly offensive--even if "incorrect"--connotations?
Personally, I'd rather educate the ignorant rather than bring everyone else down to their level by no longer using perfectly valid words.
But that's just me.
Per Rob's post above, the "ignorance" cuts both ways. No language is permanently codified, and imbued meaning is valid regardless of where it came from. You think the "ignorant" need to be "educated" about etymology. I think think the "educated" need to be less ignorant about how language evolves and accept that a penchant for recalling word origins does not invalidate subjective meanings.