Etymological fallacy explained

An etymological fallacy is an argument of equivocation, arguing that a word is defined by its etymology, and that its customary usage is therefore incorrect.^[1]

History

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.

Occurrence and examples

An etymological fallacy becomes possible when a word's meaning shifts over time from its original meaning. Such changes can include a narrowing or widening of scope or a change of connotation (amelioration or pejoration). In some cases, modern usage can shift to the point where the new meaning has no evident connection to its etymon.^[2]

Antisemitism

The term antisemitism, as coined by the Göttingen School of History in the 18th century, refers to anti-Jewish beliefs and practices.^{[3] [4]} The etymological fallacy arises when a speaker asserts its meaning is the one implied by the structure of the word—racism against the Semitic people.^{[5] [6]}

See also

• False friends

Further reading

• Book: Gula, Robert J.. Nonsense: A Handbook of Logical Fallacies. 2002. 48, 161. Axios Press . 0-9661908-5-8.
• Book: Steinmetz, Sol. Semantic Antics: How and Why Words Change Meanings. Random House Reference. 2008. 978-0-375-42612-4. registration.
• Book: Zenker, Frank . The Etymological Argument - Fallacy or Sound Move . Munich . 2002 . 978-3-638-14401-8 . 904809359.

Notes and References

1. Book: Wilson, Kenneth G. . 1993 . The Columbia Guide to Standard American English . Etymological Fallacy.
2. Book: Sihler, Andrew. Andrew Sihler. Language History. 131–133. Amsterdam studies in the theory and history of linguistic science. Series IV, Current issues in linguistic theory. 191. 2000. John Benjamins Publishing. Amsterdam/Philadelphia. 90-272-3698-4.
3. Book: Johnson, Paul . Paul Johnson (writer) . 1987 . A History of the Jews . New York, NY . HarperCollins Publishers . 978-0-06-091533-9 . 133 .
4. Web site: Lewis . Bernard . Bernard Lewis . Semites and Anti-Semites . https://web.archive.org/web/20110514133732/http://middleeastinfo.org/library/lewis_antisemitism.html . 14 May 2011 . 27 October 2018. . Extract from Islam in History: Ideas, Men and Events in the Middle East, The Library Press, 1973.Lewis . Bernard . Bernard Lewis . Winter 2006 . The New Anti-Semitism . dead . The American Scholar . 75 . 25–36 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171108130056/http://historynewsnetwork.org/blog/21832 . 8 November 2017 . 1.
5. Book: Lipstadt, Deborah . Deborah Lipstadt . 2019 . Antisemitism: Here and Now . . 978-0-80524337-6.
6. Web site: 2022-02-04 . Encyclopedia Britannica: Semitic people can't be called antisemitic . 2023-11-15 . The Jerusalem Post JPost.com . en-US.