4 ms·

I think the ability to arbitrarily verbify a noun is a powerful and desirable language feature.

• webmaven 6y ago
  > I think the ability to arbitrarily verbify a noun is a powerful and desirable language feature. Verbing weirds language.
  • deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
  • kiddico 6y ago
    But it weirds so well!
  • tiaa 6y ago
    Its definitely possible to abuse good (or neutral) language features to produce intentionally obfuscated or unclear sentences. The etymology of the word 'weird' here is interesting. I think its rootest-of-roots was actually a verb. I think language just naturally allows verbification or other shifts when it 'feels' rights, and when there isn't another term that should clearly be used instead.
    • kiddico 6y ago
      > The etymology of the word 'weird' here is interesting. I think its rootest-of-roots was actually a verb. Ooooh, thank you for that rabbit hole/etymology adventure! For any others interested: weird (adj.) c. 1400, "having power to control fate, from wierd (n.), from Old English wyrd "fate, chance, fortune; destiny; the Fates," literally "that which comes," from Proto-Germanic wurthiz (source also of Old Saxon wurd, Old High German wurt "fate," Old Norse urðr "fate, one of the three Norns"), from PIE wert- "to turn, to wind," (source also of German werden, Old English weorðan "to become"), from root *wer- (2) "to turn, bend." [https://www.etymonline.com/word/weird https://www.etymonline.com/word/weird]
      • webmaven 6y ago
        Adverbified languages change weirdly too.