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Language is not prescriptive but descriptive. No one can say (except for trademarks) that X is the only correct usage of a word and it shall remain that way for
by Pannoniae 3y ago
Language is not prescriptive but descriptive. No one can say (except for trademarks) that X is the only correct usage of a word and it shall remain that way for a millenia. Words regularly modify, change or adapt meanings - with your example, it's not unconceivable that 20 years later, anime would be used in the west as well to describe all sorts of cartoons due to japanese cultural influence.
As Alice in Wonderland says: “When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’
’The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean so many different things.’
’The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be master — that’s all.”
- kiba 3y agoOf course you are free to use whatever words you want to use to means what you want to mean, but we're talking about social norms and communication clarity. Open source has a specific meaning to specific communities and I see no reason to change.
- ReactiveJelly 3y ago> Language is not prescriptive but descriptive No, language is a language game and it bothers most people if you deliberate muddy meaning. Don't "prescriptive" and "descriptive" mean the same thing anyway? What a dumb saying.
- dwb 3y agoMainstream linguistics is descriptive and not prescriptive; language is language. By far its most important aim is to be understood. It may be that “open source” shifts in meaning in the future, but this comments section is evidence that misusing it causes confusion.
- mejutoco 3y agoThat is true for everyday use, but false in a legal context. Try saying that a product contains x when it contains y. For example, extra olive oil that contains gutter oil. In certain contexts you will have to explain to a judge that language is not prescriptive and you committed fraud, and maybe harmed people in the process.
- rerdavies 3y agoThe source is open.
- mejutoco 3y agoOpen source means something specific in a legal context, same as 50m submersible for watches and truffle oil. Many others have already mentioned that source available or other similar terms could work perfectly, but not open source, which has a specific legal meaning.