Explore the fascinating world of language with this tag. Discover insights into the science of language, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and more.
The “like” trend has its roots in the 1970s, originating in a dialect called Valleyspeak in California’s San Fernando Valley. It was characterized by excessive use of “like” as a filler word, replacing “says” with “goes,” and frequent use of “I mean.” While its usage has become more widespread across age groups, overusing “like” is … Read more
The word “like” has a wide range of meanings, from expressing attraction to comparing two things. Originally, there were only two meanings of the word: the Old English verb “to feel attracted towards” and the Old English adjective “similar to.” However, over time, four more meanings of the word have emerged. One way the filler … Read more
In 1982, Frank Zappa, known for his unconventional music and social commentary, released a song that unexpectedly became his only Top 40 hit: “Valley Girl.” The song, featuring his then-14-year-old daughter, Moon Unit Zappa, took aim at the stereotypical speech patterns and materialism associated with California’s San Fernando Valley teenagers and the excessive use of … Read more
