Multiple meaning words

[6-eyed]

Every language has them. Some such words in English that come to mind include: store, pound, pool, fork, jerk, ass, butt, bum, fan, kind, mold, seal, break, pitcher, watch, bill, chest, mine, space, trunk, will, pitcher, racket, yard, train, etc.

And even the words left and right have multiple meanings too, ironically enough.

It’s easy to know when the meaning is assigned to the word in the context of a sentence. Because you can know when the word “ass” is being referred to as a donkey, and not a buttocks. No problems there.

But one multiple meaning word I’ve always had a gripe about is none other than, Mad.

Mad can either mean angry. Or it can mean crazy.

This is bullshit. You can’t use the same word to describe two totally different emotions!

[Jessica]

your autism is showing ;-)

[Youfreeme]

Many words also have multiple meanings and different pronunciations depending on context. That trips me out a little bit.

She shed a tear over the tear in her favorite sweater.
I live to hear live bands perform at the local arena.
A musical fisherman, he strums his bass on Mondays and goes bass fishing on Fridays.
They were not present at the house when the mailman dropped off their Christmas presents.
I once read a book about all of the books one must read before they die.


and on...

[Meliai]

English is mad. Mad, I tell you!

[Jessica]

It makes me mad

[Youfreeme]

I'm trying to learn Russian right now and it's so much more straightforward and simple! None of this utter nonsense.

[Meliai]

I'm trying to learn Russian right now and it's so much more straightforward and simple! None of this utter nonsense.

YES

I did Russian on duolingo for a bit. I gave up on it too easily, but one thing I really admired about the language is how straightforward the structure is.

[Audiogen]

There's a sign on the wall, but she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings

I find the way words are co-opted for colloquial or slang use to be really odd... For instance, how does a word such as "bad" get redefined to essentially be an antonym of itself?

The inverse happens as well, maybe not quite to the antonym level but words co-opted for precision from general use ironically become vague. The word "theory" comes to mind, it seems like in ~90% of online science forum discussions, there comes a point in the discussion where the word theory needs to be differentiated between the meaning in scientific parlance and the general meaning.

[Jessica]

Because of that sexy bad thing. Like.. women like bad guys. And they mean actual bad behaviour. Turns into someone being badass. Turns into bad meaning good.

Is my guess at that one.

[6-eyed]

I blame Michael Jackson for taking the definition of Bad and turning it upside down

[Audiogen]

I blame Michael Jackson for taking the definition of Bad and turning it upside down

This preceded Michael Jackson's Bad



George Thorogood And The Destroyers - Bad To The Bone

[Din Djarin]

Liberal is a good example of a term that has different meanings and connotations depending on the country.

[Jessica]

Liberal means you don't value faith, fam, or freedom.

[Tropical Breeze]

Love

[Din Djarin]

I take umbrage

[Din Djarin]

Liberal means you don't value faith, fam, or freedom.

In my country/language it is primarily associated with wanting at least rules possible for the more enterprising people (business owners). Environment, working class rights, etc are generally all subjected to business. Freeeeedoooomm!