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> For a word that we might associate with a certain kind of reliability, "authentic" comes with more than one meaning. > It's a synonym for "real," defined as

> For a word that we might associate with a certain kind of reliability, "authentic" comes with more than one meaning. > It's a synonym for "real," defined as "not false or imitation." But it can also mean "true to one's own personality, spirit, or character" and, sneakily, "conforming to an original so as to reproduce essential features." has this always been the case, or is this more Newspeak? how can "authentic" mean anything other than "not false or imitation"? in the age of "AI"-generated text, images, audio, and video, and viral social media grifting, tiktok "skits" that users perceive as genuine, and more... we need to maintain the concept of authenticity, and have a word that accurately describes it, now more than ever before. this is like "literally" all over again—but somehow even more egregious.

drewcoo 3y ago
Words of the year seem to be words that have twisted somehow and lost their meaning. The choices all seem to be Newspeak, in fact. https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-of-the-year/see-all https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-of-the-year/see-all Not just literally and authentic, but we also have gaslighting, vaccine, they, justice, feminism, etc. All of which I've heard used to mean anything but what they meant decades ago.
- skyyler 3y ago
  How have "they" or "vaccine" changed in definition? I'm curious.
  - spondylosaurus 3y ago
    Both are words that didn't rile people up twenty (or two hundred) years ago, I guess :P
zlg_codes 3y ago
This is part of what's trying for me to take language studies seriously. Giving credence, and noting common MISusages directly in the dictionary is going to be interpreted as "yes this is correct" when it isn't. "Language evolves, get over it." Okay, then accept evolution doesn't always get it right, and shed the bullshit. Start calling people out who misuse words. Hyperbole is a literary device that can be used anywhere, not just on words like 'literally'. I realize I'm preaching to the choir but it's irritating. I can't take dictionaries or lexicographers seriously. They just report what's popular. Useless for actually studying words.

drewcoo 3y ago

Words of the year seem to be words that have twisted somehow and lost their meaning. The choices all seem to be Newspeak, in fact. https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-of-the-year/see-all https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-of-the-year/see-all Not just literally and authentic, but we also have gaslighting, vaccine, they, justice, feminism, etc. All of which I've heard used to mean anything but what they meant decades ago.

skyyler 3y ago
How have "they" or "vaccine" changed in definition? I'm curious.
- spondylosaurus 3y ago
  Both are words that didn't rile people up twenty (or two hundred) years ago, I guess :P

zlg_codes 3y ago

This is part of what's trying for me to take language studies seriously. Giving credence, and noting common MISusages directly in the dictionary is going to be interpreted as "yes this is correct" when it isn't. "Language evolves, get over it." Okay, then accept evolution doesn't always get it right, and shed the bullshit. Start calling people out who misuse words. Hyperbole is a literary device that can be used anywhere, not just on words like 'literally'. I realize I'm preaching to the choir but it's irritating. I can't take dictionaries or lexicographers seriously. They just report what's popular. Useless for actually studying words.