"Language is comprised of words and terms, all of which have a factual meaning."
Facts do not change over time. Languages do, especially English as it has no governing body to oversee and control development of the language.
"If words 'mean what we decide they mean', then can I just take any word, and decide to change the meaning at will?"
You ignored one word within my statement: We. Words are imbued with meaning by the very speakers of the language. Any additional words that have appeared in the dictionary in the last few years were obviously made by someone. That someone told someone else and the word sprung into existence like a virus or a meme. If you convinced enough people to start using a word a new way, then it would develop a new meaning. It's simply how language works.
" some brain-dead idiot used the same spelling, in a corruption of the Italian word 'razza', which means 'a culture of horses', and like a donkey, some people have been braying it ever since"
Does the origin of the word really matter? If the origin of the word 'turkey' referred to a fish with bright blue scales, would that affect how you use the word? I really don't think so. No one would have a clue what you were talking about.
If you've any elderly people you commonly talk to, see if they know what any of the texting lingo means. Does their inability to answer affect the ability of their children and grandchildren to communicate effectively? Of course not.
"'Ethnic', refers to people of a nation. What is an ethnic American, Swiss, or South African?"
Really? Let's go pull one of those dictionaries that you were referencing earlier. The first definition I've found says:
Of, relating to, or characteristic of a sizable group of people sharing a common and distinctive racial, national, religious, linguistic, or cultural heritage.
"Who were your ancestors? Yes, you and I, have the same ancestors..
All that you need to do, is to find out which 'tribe(s)' that you belong to, and describe yourself in that way. It's not that complicated, you're just making it that way."
How far back in the evolutionary tree would you like me to go? Just to the most recent Mitochondrial Eve or to the first organism to have spawned from Earth? Would you like to know where the first multicellular organism came from? We refer to people based upon their superficial features because there are no hard lines within genealogy. You can't just pick what 'tribe' you came from. We all started from the same tribe to begin with. Why are you creating divisions within society?
"Please do not use -ists or -isms"
Fascist.
"Does the world need to be continually reminded of a defunct -ist party, from brain-dead idiots like you?"
Ad hominem and factually incorrect. Let me just direct you here.
http://www.cpusa.org/
"I apologise, but I can't paint a picture of a 'dog', neither can you."
You can understand what a hypothetical is, can't you? If I give you no other information other than that you must paint a picture of a dog, an image or an idea will present itself within your mind. That image is an amalgamation of all dogs that you have thus far encountered. If I told you to paint a Chihuahua, what would you then say? What color is its fur? Does it have any defects? How large is it? If I wanted a detailed picture, I would give a detailed description. If I only want a general idea of what you're talking about then referring to something simply as a dog, while imprecise, is good enough.
Is it normal that I am against interracial relationships
↑ View this comment's parent
← View full post
"Language is comprised of words and terms, all of which have a factual meaning."
Facts do not change over time. Languages do, especially English as it has no governing body to oversee and control development of the language.
"If words 'mean what we decide they mean', then can I just take any word, and decide to change the meaning at will?"
You ignored one word within my statement: We. Words are imbued with meaning by the very speakers of the language. Any additional words that have appeared in the dictionary in the last few years were obviously made by someone. That someone told someone else and the word sprung into existence like a virus or a meme. If you convinced enough people to start using a word a new way, then it would develop a new meaning. It's simply how language works.
" some brain-dead idiot used the same spelling, in a corruption of the Italian word 'razza', which means 'a culture of horses', and like a donkey, some people have been braying it ever since"
Does the origin of the word really matter? If the origin of the word 'turkey' referred to a fish with bright blue scales, would that affect how you use the word? I really don't think so. No one would have a clue what you were talking about.
If you've any elderly people you commonly talk to, see if they know what any of the texting lingo means. Does their inability to answer affect the ability of their children and grandchildren to communicate effectively? Of course not.
"'Ethnic', refers to people of a nation. What is an ethnic American, Swiss, or South African?"
Really? Let's go pull one of those dictionaries that you were referencing earlier. The first definition I've found says:
Of, relating to, or characteristic of a sizable group of people sharing a common and distinctive racial, national, religious, linguistic, or cultural heritage.
"Who were your ancestors? Yes, you and I, have the same ancestors..
All that you need to do, is to find out which 'tribe(s)' that you belong to, and describe yourself in that way. It's not that complicated, you're just making it that way."
How far back in the evolutionary tree would you like me to go? Just to the most recent Mitochondrial Eve or to the first organism to have spawned from Earth? Would you like to know where the first multicellular organism came from? We refer to people based upon their superficial features because there are no hard lines within genealogy. You can't just pick what 'tribe' you came from. We all started from the same tribe to begin with. Why are you creating divisions within society?
"Please do not use -ists or -isms"
Fascist.
"Does the world need to be continually reminded of a defunct -ist party, from brain-dead idiots like you?"
Ad hominem and factually incorrect. Let me just direct you here.
http://www.cpusa.org/
"I apologise, but I can't paint a picture of a 'dog', neither can you."
You can understand what a hypothetical is, can't you? If I give you no other information other than that you must paint a picture of a dog, an image or an idea will present itself within your mind. That image is an amalgamation of all dogs that you have thus far encountered. If I told you to paint a Chihuahua, what would you then say? What color is its fur? Does it have any defects? How large is it? If I wanted a detailed picture, I would give a detailed description. If I only want a general idea of what you're talking about then referring to something simply as a dog, while imprecise, is good enough.