True Meanings of a Word

Since the beginning of the usage of spoken language there has been great evolution in the meaning of words. Change in language has become a very natural process throughout history. Our modern and connected culture has taken many liberties in applying new meanings to words that are commonly used to mean other things. This can easily be seen in the word gay. While this word first appeared in 1310 and meant a person full of joy and mirth, in present time it is popularly used as a word that means homosexual.

Gay is a word that has been around since the transition of Old English to Middle English in the 1300’s. Up until about 1850 this word has retained the general meaning of being joyful or having qualities that are good or charming. This once was a word that was used to describe the best kings of the English Empire, however in the 1700’s it diverged into describing somewhat that lived a joyful lifestyle but if too much excess. While this word still held its meaning in the 1700’s it seemed to gain a very negative connotation, and it is sometimes thought that it also gained a sexual implication. This negative connotation was the probable lead into the most common use of the word gay today. With gay still holding a meaning of uninhibited or carefree in the 1920’s it made its transition into the meaning of homosexual. People of the 20’s were thought to lead a carefree lifestyle, one without any moral strength. Which later lead to many people claiming that others were living a gay lifestyle. Many people living this new liberated also happened to be homosexual giving a new meaning to the word gay.

In 1935 the first use of gay with the meaning of homosexual was used in a text. This work was Underworld and Prison Slang by Ernise. This would suggest that it was still not a commonly spoken word, but it would also suggest that many people knew about this new meaning. In the 1950’s the usage of the word to mean homosexual become more popular. The use of it as a word to mean happy or joyful, however, declined. With the backlash from the counterculture in the 1960’s a movement for gay rights began to stir. Many gay people found the word homosexual to be too clinical and carry many negative connotations along with it. When using this word many people would describe their lifestyle as something that was a mental disease that needed to be treated with the help of doctors. It has also become more popular as today’s society has become more accepting of a gay lifestyle.

It is somewhat credible to say that the word gay may still hold the meaning of something that is joyous, full of life, or beautiful. When I was little I would ask if a person meant gay or if they meant happy when they would tell me that something is gay, but today I no longer have to ask that question. It seems that no matter the meaning that you hold for the word gay society has set that this word now means homosexual. Regardless of the meanings of many words in dictionaries, many people take liberties with the English language. Language is to be used how people want to use it.

Change is language overtime is a very normal process for every language around the world. This can easily be seen in the word gay. While the word has a long history or meaning of happy or bright and lively, it has commonly come hold the meaning of homosexual. Many people may be resistant to word adaptation but it is something that we all must realize, or one could risk losing touch with the spoken language today.