Evolution of words: Philosophy Forums

Evolution of words

Minyun
Graduate

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Posted 10/27/09 - 03:55 AM: Subject: Evolution of words	#1
Since the inception of computing, there have always been those are not quite litereate and those that are. As time went on, a name evolved for those that were illiterate, this group is what some would call noobs. I have been wondering about the evolution of this word and where it came from, and where it is going. It turns out it evolved like this: 1) New boy 2) Newbee 3) Newbie 4) Noobie 5) Noob 6) Newb 7) Nub What I would like to know from you intelligent folk, can there and is there an 8th point in its evolution? Or is this the final stage? And are there any other words that have taken the same course? Is there any decent literature on the evolution of words? ... or maybe I am looking for a black cat in a coal bin that isn't there

SIR2U
The Wonderor of Why

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Posted 10/27/09 - 04:13 PM:	#2
I have never heard this idea before. I have heard the different words used by different people in different parts of the world, at the same time. Which would show more of variance than evolution.
Unknown Alanic wiseman. "Ignorance and bad teeth have at least one thing in common. Keeping your mouth closed makes them both less obvious"

Arkady
Assistant Professor

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Posted 10/27/09 - 06:13 PM:	#3
Minyun wrote: Is there any decent literature on the evolution of words? Minyun, Though I don't even rate as an amateur on the subject of linguistics and the study of the history of language, I do believe there is a fairly substantial literature on this topic. Mathematician Martin Nowak et al, for instance, published this paper in Nature in 2007. A search on Google or Google Scholar would likely turn up some resources for you, as well. Hope this helps.
"Sit down before fact like a little child, and be prepared to give up every preconceived notion. Follow humbly wherever and to whatever abyss Nature leads, or you shall learn nothing." -T.H. Huxley

Minyun
Graduate

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Posted 10/27/09 - 10:18 PM:	#4
Thanks. If only the Internet were really free

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