word

What is Merriam-Webster trying to tell us about the evolution of words?

Did you know the interplay of English and French in different circles originated from the Battle of Hastings?

Trust Merriam-Webster to go far beyond a standard dictionary, tracing the evolution of language, and its contemporary usage. Through its latest Instagram post, Merriam-Webster drew attention to the cultural significance of the Battle of Hastings from 1066, where the French-speaking Normans conquered Britain. This led to France becoming the official language used in law, bureaucracy, nobility and power centres. However, commoners continued to use English. This difference has persisted even today, and the page cites several examples of common English terms and their French counterparts including thought-philosophy and job-profession.    

— Vedant Karia

Want to get featured in the Try This Today section of My Kolkata? Mail us at trythistoday@tt-mykolkata.com