etymology

- Etymology is the science that deals with the origin of words.

Example: The word etymology itself comes from the Greek étymon, true meaning, from 'etymos' true) and lógos, word.


- Slang is the use of highly informal (coloquial, not used in a formal conversation) words.

Example: plaster is used to define arse (ass).

Thank you Francis for your guidance. But can you tell me that is it necessary to learn or have good knowledge of 'etymology' to read. write, speak or understand English? And for what basicallay is reffered the use of etymology in English language.

Etymology is not needed to learn or understand English or any other language.

It only improves the understanding you have of a language.

Etymology is a compound word.

The comes from the ancient Saxon 'etya](where our word for eat comes from) which means "to swallow", the Latin "mal" which can mean either 'bad" or "difficult". Of course the familiar Greek suffix "logy" means "study of".

So "etymology", taken literally, is "the study of things that are hard to swallow."

Nice explanation, ebrown_p, but I doubt it's the real etymology of the word.

I think the importance of etymology varies according to how you learn. Some people prefer simple memorization. I like to know WHY things are a certain way, to find patterns, etc. It makes it more interesting for me and is also just the way I learn most effectively. So etymology is important to me, no matter what language I'm learning.

That doesn't mean it's necessary for everyone.

It is indeed more interesting and I think it improves your ability to learn.

Gambattista Vico, the Italian philosopher, thought that etymology was the only worthwhile method ot studying history. Many writers have followed him in this line of reasoning notably James Joyce who places a character in Ulysses in Vico Road.

It is, I'm afraid CO2, a very complex and difficult subject and as you have already seen here open to various interpretations. The subject has no bottom yet remotely in sight.

You probably mean Giambattista, Spendius.

Knowing the etymology of Gamba (leg) help calling Vico, John the Baptist.

I had loaned somebody the book so I didn't check the spelling Francis. I tend to remember the message rather than the messenger.