Words can be ambiguous. They can have many meanings, the meanings can evolve through time. Some concepts can attach themselves to some words. There can be some easy connection between words and some mental pictures.
Let's takes an example: Goth. First image coming to mind: a Goth person all dressed in dark, dramatic makeup, a fancy hair style, maybe high boots and macabre jewelry. This is only the first connection to be done. There is the Gothic tribes that threatened the Roman Empire, the Gothic architecture that is known as a pejorative style, the Gothic litterature with it's famous representant like Dracula and Frankenstein and the Gothic movies like Rosemary's baby. I may forget other tentacular Goth influence in the art and lives. It is something popular to get into rebellion, be it short lived or for life. I am amazed that the context can separate those various branch that lead to the word «Goth». People mainly think of the generic Goth person. The rest seems to be more hidden or swept in with the Goth person.
It is not the only word that is subtle. It is even more fun to discover words with some double meaning or that have fun puns. For example Rose: the flower and the act of getting up. It is something fun to work with words.
No comments:
Post a Comment