Etymological fallacy

An etymological fallacy is committed when an argument makes a claim about the present meaning of a word based exclusively on that word's etymology.^[1] It is a genetic fallacy that holds a word's historical meaning to be its sole valid meaning and that its present-day meaning is invalid.^[1] This is a linguistic misconception,^[2] and is sometimes used as a basis for linguistic prescription.

An etymological fallacy may involve looking for the true meaning of words by delving into their etymologies,^[3] or claiming that a word should be used in a particular way because it has a particular etymology.^[1]

Occurrence and examples

An etymological fallacy becomes possible when a word has changed its meaning over time. Such changes can include a shift in scope (narrowing or widening of meanings) or of connotation (amelioration or pejoration). In some cases, meanings can also shift completely, so that the etymological meaning has no evident connection to the current meaning.^[1]

Ancient Greeks believed that there was a "true meaning" of a word, distinct from common use. There is evidence that a similar belief existed among ancient Vedic scholars. In modern days, this fallacy can be found in some arguments of language purists.^[1]

Not every change in meaning leads to an etymological fallacy, but such changes are frequently the basis of inaccurate arguments.

An example of a word which has greatly changed its meaning is decimation, which originally referred to reduction by a tenth, but now usually means a drastic reduction or complete destruction.^[4] To insist that only the original meaning is true is to commit an etymological fallacy.^[1]

One word with an unchanged meaning and a misleading etymology is antisemitism. The form of the word suggests that it refers to opposition to Semites, but when the word was coined in the 19th century, it specifically signified anti-Jewish beliefs and behaviors. There are many Semitic peoples who are not the Jewish people, and since the word Semite can refer to someone who is not Jewish, the etymologically fallacious argument is made that antisemites are not anti-Jewish.^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Sihler, Andrew (2000). Language History. Amsterdam studies in the theory and history of linguistic science. Series IV, Current issues in linguistic theory. Vol. 191. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing. pp. 131–133. ISBN 90-272-3698-4.
^ Wilson, Kenneth G. (1993). "Etymological Fallacy". The Columbia Guide to Standard American English.
^ Hutton, Christopher (1998). Linguistics and Third Reich. Routledge studies in the history of linguistics. Vol. 1. Routledge. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-203-02101-9. Retrieved 2010-08-01. [...] allegedly absurd beliefs such as the etymological 'fallacy' (i.e. the assertion that the true meaning of a word is to be sought in its etymology).
^ Oxford English Dictionary s.v. decimation, decimate
^ Lipstadt, Deborah (2019). Antisemitism: Here and Now. Schocken Books. ISBN 978-0-80524337-6.

Etymological fallacy

Occurrence and examples

See also

References

Further reading