http://www.bl.uk/turning-the-pages/?id=86825520-a671-11db-a264-0050c2490048&type=book
Written around 1865
Language change is present within the Alice In Wonderland text as they use the word "stocking" in order to describe the item of clothing in present day we would refer to as socks suggesting that the word may have undergone diachronic change and has narrowed in meanings over the years. In the present day stocking has connotations of sexiness as women wear them as a form of lingerie rather than the old connotations of an every day essential item of clothing. In today's society it is seen as more socially acceptable for women to be seen just wearing lingerie as they are often shown on billboards as part of an advertisement which would not have been acceptable before. A modern version of this book would not use the word "stockings" instead it would use "socks" as due to the connotations it would be seen as innapropiate as Alice In Wonderland is a childrens book.
Good. It would be useful to recognise that its meaning is preserved to the extent that the final version, Alice in Wonderland is still read by/to children today and what was meant would either be clear or discussed. But modern authors would use 'socks' as you rightly point out. Could you link to any other examples from wider reading e.g. stockings for children have become as obsolete as old technologies like gramophones or out-of-fashion garments like bustles but the semantic shift that has happened (a narrowing of meaning to go with the narrowing of usage) could be also linked to the semantic derogation of 'mistress' because of the pejoration implicit in the sexualisation of both terms.
ReplyDeleteMake a clear link to reasons for diachronic languge change e.g. fashion and attitudes rather than just implying it.