What will I learn about: why the English language is in a constant state of evolution, and how recent linguistic habits like using the word 'like' continue a long-standing tradition of adaptation?

Understand why the English language is in a constant state of evolution, and how recent linguistic habits like using the word 'like' continue a long-standing tradition of adaptation.

What will I learn about: how emotional self-expression has been embedded in everyday language since the Dark Ages, using simple words like 'well' to convey complex attitudes and soften conversations?

Discover how emotional self-expression has been embedded in everyday language since the Dark Ages, using simple words like 'well' to convey complex attitudes and soften conversations.

What will I learn about: Learn how emoticons serve as a crucial emotional arsenal in modern texting, functioning as linguistic intensifiers rather than threatening to replace written English?

Learn how emoticons serve as a crucial emotional arsenal in modern texting, functioning as linguistic intensifiers rather than threatening to replace written English.

What will I learn about: Explore the fascinating process of how word meanings gradually shift over centuries, transforming the definitions of everyday terms like 'science,' 'dog,' and 'innumerable.'?

Explore the fascinating process of how word meanings gradually shift over centuries, transforming the definitions of everyday terms like 'science,' 'dog,' and 'innumerable.'

What will I learn about: how the rapid evolution of English continuously reshapes our grammar, frequently transforming everyday action verbs into newly minted nouns for modern conversation?

Find out how the rapid evolution of English continuously reshapes our grammar, frequently transforming everyday action verbs into newly minted nouns for modern conversation.

Words on the Move

Why English Won’t – and Can’t – Sit Still (Like, Literally)

John McWhorter

★ 4.5 / 5(75 ratings)

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Science

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💡Have you ever wondered why the use of “like” and emoticons isn’t actually ruining the English language, but is instead a sign of its healthy evolution?
💡Did you know that many of the words we use today have completely different meanings than they did just a few centuries ago, and that this “drift” is the secret to a living language?
💡Are you curious about how a rugged West Germanic dialect managed to transform into a global lingua franca while shedding almost all of its original rules along the way?

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Key Takeaways from Words on the Move

✓Understand why the English language is in a constant state of evolution, and how recent linguistic habits like using the word 'like' continue a long-standing tradition of adaptation.
✓Discover how emotional self-expression has been embedded in everyday language since the Dark Ages, using simple words like 'well' to convey complex attitudes and soften conversations.
✓Learn how emoticons serve as a crucial emotional arsenal in modern texting, functioning as linguistic intensifiers rather than threatening to replace written English.
✓Explore the fascinating process of how word meanings gradually shift over centuries, transforming the definitions of everyday terms like 'science,' 'dog,' and 'innumerable.'
✓Find out how the rapid evolution of English continuously reshapes our grammar, frequently transforming everyday action verbs into newly minted nouns for modern conversation.

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Mind Map

Words on the Move

Constant Evolution+

Expressing Emotion+

Structural Innovations+

Punctuation Fads+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 9

According to the book, how does the history of emotional expression in language compare to that in art?

A. Emotion in language is a relatively recent phenomenon, following the Renaissance in art.
B. Emotional expression has been central to language for centuries, long before it became a focus in art.
C. Both art and language began prioritizing individual emotional expression at the same time.
D. Language is naturally less capable of expressing individual emotions than visual art.

Question 2 of 9

What is the author's perspective on the rise of texting and the use of emoticons?

A. They threaten to completely replace traditional written English.
B. They are modern equivalents of the fax machine, used primarily to convey dry, technical information.
C. They make written communication more like spoken language by injecting emotion and casualness.
D. They indicate a decline in the vocabulary of younger generations.

Question 3 of 9

How did the word 'innumerable' change in meaning over time?

A. It originally meant 'a large amount,' but now means 'impossible to count.'
B. It originally meant 'impossible to count,' but gradually shifted to mean 'a lot.'
C. It originally referred to mathematical equations, but now refers to abstract concepts.
D. It is one of the rare English words that has retained its exact original meaning.

Question 4 of 9

Why would a native French or Spanish speaker likely find English business jargon like 'the ask' or 'a solve' jarring?

A. Their languages strictly require verbs to have specific endings, making it unnatural to use them directly as nouns.
B. French and Spanish business cultures do not use informal language in professional settings.
C. Their languages have entirely separate vocabularies for business and everyday life.
D. English verbs change their spelling completely when they become nouns, which is confusing to non-native speakers.

Question 5 of 9

According to the text, why has the exclamation mark become so common in everyday digital communication?

A. People today experience and express genuine surprise more frequently than in the past.
B. It has experienced 'inflation' and is now primarily used to signal politeness and attentiveness.
C. It was popularized by the invention of the typewriter and carried over into digital communication.
D. Modern grammar rules dictate that all informal sentences must end with an exclamation mark.

Question 6 of 9

How does understanding modern word blends like 'sitcom' or 'staycation' help us understand Old English?

A. Old English was entirely composed of blended words from Latin and Germanic tribes.
B. Old English frequently used blending to create negative statements, such as combining 'ne' and 'have' into 'nave.'
C. Modern blends are actually ancient Old English words that have resurfaced in the internet age.
D. Old English scholars invented the concept of blending to translate Greek texts into English.

Question 7 of 9

What linguistic principle explains the difference in pronunciation between the verb 'suspect' and the noun 'suspect'?

A. The forward shift of vowels in the 19th century.
B. The tendency of English to add silent letters to nouns.
C. The backward shift of accentuation that often occurs when verbs turn into nouns.
D. The influence of French pronunciation on English legal terms.

Question 8 of 9

What is the linguistic origin and evolution of the '-ly' suffix in words like 'slowly' or 'angrily'?

A. It was invented by Shakespeare to make dialogue flow more rhythmically.
B. It derived from the Old English word 'lic,' meaning 'like,' which was gradually shortened over time.
C. It was originally a French suffix that English adopted after the Norman Conquest.
D. It evolved from the Proto-Indo-European word for 'brother.'

Question 9 of 9

How does the author view the modern, frequent use of the word 'like' in spoken English?

A. It is a meaningless filler word that degrades the quality of the English language.
B. It acts similarly to a punctuation mark, indicating the end of a thought.
C. It serves a useful function by conveying a speaker's attitude, such as surprise or a sense that something is out of the ordinary.
D. It is an attempt to make spoken English sound more formal and structured.

Words on the Move — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
2Emotional self-expression may be new in art, but it’s been central to language since the Dark Ages.
3Emoticons are simply the newest tool in the emotional toolkit of our language.
4The meaning of nearly every word shifts slowly and gradually over time.
5English is packed with cases of verbs turning into nouns and gaining completely new senses.
6The role of exclamation marks has shifted as usage trends and cross-cultural influences evolved.
7Realizing that words often fuse together and form new hybrids sheds light on Old English.
8Shifts in how we stress words when pronouncing them can trigger further language change.
9The word “like” has constantly transformed, and how we use it now is just the newest twist.

Words on the Move Summary & Overview

Words on the Move (2016) is a whistle-stop tour through the history of the English language, from its Anglo-Saxon roots to global lingua franca. Packed with illuminating insights into the evolution of words and meaning, John McWhorter’s entertaining look at language dispels plenty of myths along the way. He argues that emoticons and the new use of “like” aren’t a threat to our language, but quite the opposite – they’re the latest chapters in a story of endless evolution.

Who Should Listen to Words on the Move?

Language learners and enthusiasts
Anyone who’s wondered where words come from
History buffs

About the Author: John McWhorter

John McWhorter is a professor of English literature at Columbia University. He’s best-known for his writing on the English language and its history. His previous books include The Language Hoax (2014) and Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue (2009). McWhorter is also a regular contributor to major newspapers including the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.

Words on the Move

If You're Curious About These Questions...

Listen to Words on the Move — Free Audiobook

Key Takeaways from Words on the Move

Learning Tools

Mind Map

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Words on the Move — Full Chapter Overview

Words on the Move Summary & Overview

Who Should Listen to Words on the Move?

About the Author: John McWhorter

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