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zenithtreader t1_j7ls7i7 wrote

Reply to comment by Daotar in The often misused buzzword Paradigm originated in extremely popular and controversial philosopher of science Thomas Kuhn's work; he defined the term in two core ways: firstly as a disciplinary matrix (similar to the concept of a worldview) and secondly as an exemplar by thelivingphilosophy

In addition to that, language is not a fixed paradigm, it is defined by people using it, not the other way around. When enough people use a word in the "wrong" way, it becomes the correct and normal way to use it.

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Prototypist1 t1_j7mjzju wrote

This is the Aladeen answer.

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Dragon_Fisting t1_j7n7akt wrote

This is generally true and true of English, but language is also political and academic to varying degrees, so it can in fact be fixed in place. Many languages, particularly ones that are strongly tied to specific nations or groups, are governed in some degree from the top down, with institutions that regulate the development of a language. The Académie Française, Royal Spanish Academy, etc.

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FlyingApple31 t1_j7nqoic wrote

Oof... I got down voted to hell for arguing something similar earlier this week, but I'm not steeped enough in sources to be able to reference them on demand. Always a relief to find ideas reiterated elsewhere.

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hOprah_Winfree-carr t1_j7n8pct wrote

Beyond a critical point and time it often becomes denotatively defined as correct, which is not always what we mean by 'correct.' In terms of clarity or consistency the popular choice often is wrong. If one takes issue, specifically, with the popular usage of a word, then obviously the meaning of 'correct' is functional, not denotative. So the reminder that lexicography follows vernacular, while true, is meaningless in that context.

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