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 Jan 6 at 13:56
DeaneDeane
33027
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 Jan 6 at 13:56
DeaneDeane
33027
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
Jan 6 at 14:20
Obsolete is used often to mean this.
– moonstar
Jan 6 at 15:40
And (unless pre-set) we stil 'dial' someone's (phone) number.
– dave_thompson_085
Jan 6 at 23:37
1
Your car's dashboard has an interesting history. So does the term computer
– Phil Sweet
Jan 7 at 0:21
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 Jan 6 at 13:56
DeaneDeane
33027
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 Jan 6 at 13:56
DeaneDeane
33027
asked Jan 6 at 13:56
DeaneDeane
33027
asked Jan 6 at 13:56
DeaneDeane
33027
asked Jan 6 at 13:56
DeaneDeane
33027
asked Jan 6 at 13:56
DeaneDeane
33027
33027
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
Jan 6 at 14:20
Obsolete is used often to mean this.
– moonstar
Jan 6 at 15:40
And (unless pre-set) we stil 'dial' someone's (phone) number.
– dave_thompson_085
Jan 6 at 23:37
1
Your car's dashboard has an interesting history. So does the term computer
– Phil Sweet
Jan 7 at 0:21
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
Jan 6 at 14:20
Obsolete is used often to mean this.
– moonstar
Jan 6 at 15:40
And (unless pre-set) we stil 'dial' someone's (phone) number.
– dave_thompson_085
Jan 6 at 23:37
1
Your car's dashboard has an interesting history. So does the term computer
– Phil Sweet
Jan 7 at 0:21
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
Jan 6 at 14:20
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
Jan 6 at 14:20
Obsolete is used often to mean this.
– moonstar
Jan 6 at 15:40
Obsolete is used often to mean this.
– moonstar
Jan 6 at 15:40
And (unless pre-set) we stil 'dial' someone's (phone) number.
– dave_thompson_085
Jan 6 at 23:37
And (unless pre-set) we stil 'dial' someone's (phone) number.
– dave_thompson_085
Jan 6 at 23:37
1
1
Your car's dashboard has an interesting history. So does the term computer
– Phil Sweet
Jan 7 at 0:21
Your car's dashboard has an interesting history. So does the term computer
– Phil Sweet
Jan 7 at 0:21
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
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 Jan 6 at 15:49
LawrenceLawrence
31.1k562110
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f480097%2fwhat-do-we-call-definitions-we-keep-using-for-objects-whose-nature-has-changed%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
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 Jan 6 at 15:49
LawrenceLawrence
31.1k562110
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 Jan 6 at 15:49
LawrenceLawrence
31.1k562110
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 Jan 6 at 15:49
LawrenceLawrence
31.1k562110
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 Jan 6 at 15:49
LawrenceLawrence
31.1k562110
answered Jan 6 at 15:49
LawrenceLawrence
31.1k562110
answered Jan 6 at 15:49
LawrenceLawrence
31.1k562110
answered Jan 6 at 15:49
LawrenceLawrence
31.1k562110
31.1k562110
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f480097%2fwhat-do-we-call-definitions-we-keep-using-for-objects-whose-nature-has-changed%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
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
Jan 6 at 14:20
Obsolete is used often to mean this.
– moonstar
Jan 6 at 15:40
And (unless pre-set) we stil 'dial' someone's (phone) number.
– dave_thompson_085
Jan 6 at 23:37
1
Your car's dashboard has an interesting history. So does the term computer
– Phil Sweet
Jan 7 at 0:21