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Almost like how the English language has been literally hijacked and destroyed. Language does change and evolve. The misuse and subsequent additional meaning f

Almost like how the English language has been literally hijacked and destroyed. Language does change and evolve. The misuse and subsequent additional meaning for “literally” to now also be a simile for “figuratively” is a good example of how this isn’t necessarily always a good thing.

dkjaudyeqooe 6y ago
Do you mean like "incredible" and the like? It's just language, you might disagree but usage determines correctness (eventually).
edgyquant 6y ago
The changing and evolution of language is neither a good nor bad thing, it just is.
- young_unixer 6y ago
  Disagree. If a change diminishes the clarity, efficiency or even the beauty of the language for no good reason, then it's a bad change, at least for the purposes of communication.
jagthebeetle 6y ago
To be fair, we wouldn't have "literally" without a metaphoric interpretation of "literalis," "of or relating to letters." I always find this particular example to be somewhat self-contradicting for this reason.
powersnail 6y ago
How is "literally" used as a simile for "figuratively"? A simile would require a sentence in which "literally" is compared to "figuratively", wouldn't it? My impression, as a non-native speaker, is that the misused "literally" is to indicate exaggeration, not the quality of being figurative.
- anon9001 6y ago
  > the misused "literally" is to indicate exaggeration Used to be. Now "literally" literally means "figuratively". [1] [1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally
  - powersnail 6y ago
    From your link: > Can literally mean figuratively? > One of the definitions of literally that we provide is "in effect, virtually—used in an exaggerated way to emphasize a statement or description that is not literally true or possible." Some find this objectionable on the grounds that it is not the primary meaning of the word, "with the meaning of each individual word given exactly." However, this extended definition of literally is commonly used and is not quite the same meaning as figuratively ("with a meaning that is metaphorical rather than literal"). That seem to confirm my impression that "literally" is used to indicate exaggeration, rather than being figurative. Edit: formatting the quote
    - xKingfisher 6y ago
      You are correct. Literally is commonly used as an intensifier and has been for ages. Complaining that modern people are literally ruining the word literally is a popular internet gripe.
- dkjaudyeqooe 6y ago
  Simple: "Literally" is being used figuratively.
xKingfisher 6y ago
The 'misuse' of literally has been part of the English language for almost 300 years at this point [1]. It is older than the USA. [1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/misuse-of-literally https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/misuse-of-lite...

dkjaudyeqooe 6y ago

Do you mean like "incredible" and the like? It's just language, you might disagree but usage determines correctness (eventually).

edgyquant 6y ago

The changing and evolution of language is neither a good nor bad thing, it just is.

young_unixer 6y ago
Disagree. If a change diminishes the clarity, efficiency or even the beauty of the language for no good reason, then it's a bad change, at least for the purposes of communication.

jagthebeetle 6y ago

To be fair, we wouldn't have "literally" without a metaphoric interpretation of "literalis," "of or relating to letters." I always find this particular example to be somewhat self-contradicting for this reason.

powersnail 6y ago

How is "literally" used as a simile for "figuratively"? A simile would require a sentence in which "literally" is compared to "figuratively", wouldn't it? My impression, as a non-native speaker, is that the misused "literally" is to indicate exaggeration, not the quality of being figurative.

anon9001 6y ago
> the misused "literally" is to indicate exaggeration Used to be. Now "literally" literally means "figuratively". [1] [1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally
- powersnail 6y ago
  From your link: > Can literally mean figuratively? > One of the definitions of literally that we provide is "in effect, virtually—used in an exaggerated way to emphasize a statement or description that is not literally true or possible." Some find this objectionable on the grounds that it is not the primary meaning of the word, "with the meaning of each individual word given exactly." However, this extended definition of literally is commonly used and is not quite the same meaning as figuratively ("with a meaning that is metaphorical rather than literal"). That seem to confirm my impression that "literally" is used to indicate exaggeration, rather than being figurative. Edit: formatting the quote
  - xKingfisher 6y ago
    You are correct. Literally is commonly used as an intensifier and has been for ages. Complaining that modern people are literally ruining the word literally is a popular internet gripe.
dkjaudyeqooe 6y ago
Simple: "Literally" is being used figuratively.

xKingfisher 6y ago

The 'misuse' of literally has been part of the English language for almost 300 years at this point [1]. It is older than the USA. [1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/misuse-of-literally https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/misuse-of-lite...