Discussion Board 6 - Chapter 5 - Essay Example

Word Meaning by Region and Generation As society, our culture and understanding of verbal words tend to evolve with our development as a people. This means that just like the people who populate this country and this planet, our ability to to deliver and understand verbal messages should also be considered a living, breathing, and constantly developing part of our growth and civilization. Case in point is that our vocabulary is composed of words that have evolved in meaning over the decades. The changes in the word etymology are based upon the region where the word was first coined, and then the ways and means by which it was verbally used by others who mingled and interacted with people from other parts of the country.

A clear example of such a word is Bun. The word was originally coined to describe a round type of bread that is used in the making of various sandwiches. But over the years, it has also been used to describe the way a woman wears her hair in a bunched up ponytail near the top of her head. The same word, describes two different things that merely share the same shape and size. A hair bun and a bread bun. Both meaning a round and plump object with one being edible and the other not. Regional examples of the verbal differences in the meaning of words include cinema and theater.

Although the words connote going to see a movie in most instances, in some regions, the theater means a the venue for a live show that is different from a movie house. We can also consider the same difference when it comes to the words Film and Movies. Although they both describe the same thing, movies is the word often used to describe any ordinary video that one is watching. While the term film is used to connote a high brow movie that requires a more serious discussion and understanding.