Another thing that I find interesting is how the meaning of a word can change. For example, the word "aweful" used to mean "full of awe." The word "girl" used to mean a youth - a young person of either gender, not only female. And the word "spinster," a derogatory term now used for an unmarried woman who is past the age of marriage, used to deignate something far different. The word "spinster" used to mean a prostitute. Actually, the original meaning of "spinster" was simply that of a seamstress, or a woman who used a spinning wheel to make clothes. It seems that the men of the higher social classes who employed these women would often take them as mistresses or lovers.
Words have traditionally reflected the values of the ruling class. For example, the word "heathen" originally meant someone who lived in the heath lands, the countryside far removed from the city. Likewise a "villain" used to mean someone who lived in a "ville" a small town far removed from the urban center. It seems that city people have always entertained the idea of country people as "hillbillies " or "shitkickers." Just consider how the word "urbane" (with an extra "e") means someone who is sophisticated and cultured. It is obviously closely related to "urban."
Language also reflects he sexist nature of society. Just consider the words "bachelor" and "spinster." Their *denotations* are the same, and there is a correlation between their denotations. That is to say that they both denote unmarried people who have passed the age when they "should" have married. But their *connotations" are different. When you think of the word "bachelor" what ideas come to mind? If you're like most people, you will imagine a handsome, even dashing, debonair man driving an expensive car and travellinga round the word. He's too smart to let himself get "trapped" into marriage. He has succesfully resited the wiles of the women who tried to "snare" him. But, when you think of a spinster, you get an entirely different set of notions. Likewise, is there any "feminine" equivalent to terms such as "Don Juan," "Cassanova," or "man about town"? And just think of the words "father" and "mother" used as *verbs.* If I say, "He fathered the boy," it means that he is the biological father of the boy. Only one man can be said to have fathered the boy. But I can say, his sisters and aunts and grandmother all mothered him so much. Many women can mother a child, but only one man can father a child. As Shakespeare said, "Words, words, words." Words are fascinating.