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from Part IV - Arts, Entertainment, and Culture
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 July 2021
Language is an inherently creative process. New words are constantly being coined that add richness to our verbal communications with one another. The origin of words is the central concern of the branch of linguistic science called etymology. This field of study offers us rare glimpses into this creative process. I explore three words derived from dramatic works: malapropism, ignoramus, and robot. The histories of these words are unusually interesting and revealing as to the time and place of their origins. Wit, scorn, and foreboding, respectively, revolve around this trio of “playful” words.
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