Linguist Answers Word Origin Questions | Tech Support | WIRED

Roberts discusses how words like 'dude' and 'bro' are becoming more gender-neutral, while words like 'man' (originally a general term for people) became gender-specific. He also explains that 'guy' originates from Guy Fawkes, whose effigies ('guys') were burned, eventually evolving into an informal term for a man.

The prevalence of silent letters in English spelling is addressed. Roberts explains that many silent letters, like the 'k' in 'knight' or 'g' in 'gnaw', were once pronounced but later dropped in speech, while the spelling remained. He also notes how letters were sometimes added to words (like the 'l' in 'could') or restored to reflect Latin roots (like the 'b' in 'doubt').

Roberts explores how language avoids taboo subjects through euphemisms, citing 'unalived' as a modern example. He also discusses the possible taboo origin of the word 'bear', suggesting that early speakers avoided using its true Indo-European name out of fear, instead referring to it by its color ('brown').

An explanation of Grimm's Law, a set of sound changes that occurred in Germanic languages. He uses examples like 'p' becoming 'f' (Latin 'pater' to English 'father') and 'c' becoming 'h' (Latin 'canis' to English 'hound') to illustrate how consonant shifts transformed words during the development of Proto-Germanic.

Roberts debunks the idea that words are invented from nothing. He explains that new words typically arise from combining existing words (e.g., 'frog house'), onomatopoeia (e.g., 'piss' from the sound of urination), or simplification of iconic gestures. He provides an example of 'but' evolving from meaning 'outside' to indicating a contrast.

Roberts discusses whether all languages share a common ancestor, focusing on the Proto-Indo-European language. He explains that this reconstructed language, spoken around 6,000 years ago by nomadic pastoralists in the Pontic-Caspian steppe, is the common root for many European and Asian languages. He illustrates how words like 'father' (from Proto-Indo-European '*pəter') can be traced across different language families.

Before language, humans communicated through sounds and gestures. Roberts suggests that many early words were onomatopoeic, like 'meow' for a cat or 'bang' for a loud noise. He also explains that words like 'mama' and 'papa' arise from babies' babbling, as parents interpret these sounds as referring to them.

Roberts explains how words can change due to reinterpretation of the indefinite article. He uses 'orange' (originally 'naranj') as a prime example, where 'a naranj' became 'an orange'. Similar phenomena occurred with 'napron' becoming 'apron' and 'naddre' becoming 'adder'.

He discusses the word 'poop' which likely originated as an onomatopoeia for a puff of air, initially meaning something like 'fart' before shifting to its current meaning. He also addresses the 'fall' vs. 'autumn' debate, noting that 'harvest' was the original English term, and both 'fall' (from the falling of leaves) and 'autumn' (from Latin via French) emerged in the 16th century.

Roberts explains that generational slang is a constant phenomenon. Young people invent new terms (like 'fomo' or shorthand like 'cuz'), partly to differentiate themselves from older generations. He uses the example of the Latin word 'caput' (head) being replaced by 'testa' (pot/skull) in Romance languages, showing how slang can become standard over time.

The 'Great Vowel Shift' is explained as a major sound change in English that occurred from the late 14th century. Roberts demonstrates how vowel pronunciations changed, using examples like 'bit' becoming 'beet', 'boot' becoming 'bout', and 'bite' from a diphthong.

Roberts clarifies that Shakespeare did not invent as many words as commonly believed. Many words attributed to him were already in use but were first recorded in his writings, which were widely circulated and consulted by dictionary makers. He notes that Shakespeare did create many famous 'terms of phrase'.

The disappearance of 'thou' and 'thee' from English is discussed. Originally, 'thou' was singular and 'you' was plural. Over time, 'you' began to be used for singulars, especially in respectful contexts (similar to French 'vous'). In the 17th century, 'thou' declined, partly because certain religious groups like the Quakers adopted it universally, leading to a desire for linguistic differentiation.

The word 'word' itself comes from an Indo-European root meaning 'speech' with an ending indicating completed action, thus 'that which has been spoken'. For 'pregnant', Roberts breaks down its Latin origin: 'pre-' (before) and '-gnant' (from 'nasci', to give birth). He also offers the interesting Spanish word 'embarazada', which comes from 'maraza' (rope) through 'entangled' and then to a euphemism for pregnancy.

Roberts concludes by discussing the mysterious origin of the word 'dog'. Unlike 'hound', which has clear Indo-European roots, 'dog' appeared in late medieval English without a known root word. He suggests it might have been a cute, expressive term used informally, thus not often recorded in formal writing until it became the standard term.

Linguist Gareth Roberts introduces himself and the topic of etymology, the study of word origins and their historical development. He uses the word 'gossip' as an example, explaining how it evolved from 'god-sib' (godparent) to a person who shares intimate social information, and then to the act of gossiping.