WHY THE MEANING OF THE WORD CHANGE?

When viewed in a diachronic or under development all the time, then the meaning of words likely to change. A word which in ancient times was significantly better, at the present time can be significantly worse, and at later time may be significantly higher or lower. For example, once said the father and brother are only used in a biological relationship, now all those who are older or higher position is called the father, and all the people who called the brothers are considered equal.
Our problem now is why the meaning of the word can change? What caused the change? And how also form the change?

Many factors caused the changes the meaning of a word. Abdul Chaer (2003: 310-315) explains that the cause of the change of meaning is partly due to the developments in science and technology, social and cultural development, the development of word usage, the exchange of sensory perception, and the association. Here I will explain briefly about these factors.

Progress in Science and Technology
The development of concepts in science can lead to a change of meaning. For example, the word originally significant literary writings or books that both the content and language changed the meaning into works that are imaginative creative. Developments in technology also leads to changes in the meaning of the word. For example, the word originally meaning sailing trip in the sea by boat to change the display means to be an activity even though the journey across the sea no longer use the screen but using the engine power or even nuclear power.

A word that originally contained the concept of the meaning of something simple to keep using even though the concept has changed the meaning of which was conceived as a result of the new view in the view of science or technology development.

Social and Cultural Development
Changes socio-cultural significance because of developments similar to what happened due to the development of science and technology. The form said the same but the meaning it contains the concept has changed. For example kat degree used to mean people who are good or scholars. Now the significant people who have graduated from college.

In addition, almost all of the words or kinship terms such as father, mother, sister, brother, sister, and grandmother was also used as a greeting to call anyone who deserves to be called ata younger sister. Even the words father and mother are not only used to refer to people whose age deserves to be called the father or mother, but also in people who have a position or a higher social status.

Development of Word Usage
Every field of life or activity has its own vocabulary. For example in agriculture known seed word, work, and plowing. In the field of education there is the word of students, teachers, and exams. Is in the field of religion there is the word of faith, fasting and reward.

The words that become vocabulary in certain areas it can be retrieved and used in other fields or into the general vocabulary. Therefore, these words have new meanings or different meanings in addition to original meaning. For example, the word that comes from working on agricultural fields are widely used in other fields such as working on a play or working on thesis. The word comes from plowing the fields of agriculture are now commonly used in other fields such as hijacked planes, or pirated cassettes.

From the example above it is clear that if the word is used in other fields, it said it will form a different meaning. But the new meaning of the word is still associated with the original meaning in bidanga origin.

Responses exchange Indra
Humans have five senses. Each senses already have their respective duties to catch the symptoms that occur in this world. However, in the Indonesian language many cases the exchange of feedback between sensory one with the other senses. For example, spicy flavor that ditanggap by the sense of taste on the tongue, ditanggap by, the sense of hearing as in the phrase, "once Spicy words." Or exchange of responses between the sense of taste on the tongue with a sense of vision in the phrase "sweet face"

Changes in meaning caused by the exchange of sensory responses termed synesthesia. The term comes from Greek language which means the same sun and aisthetikas the meaning apparent.

The existence of the Association
The change of meaning can occur because of the nature of equality. The point is that the relationship between a figure of speech with something else related to these forms of speech, so that when speech is called, then the question is something else related to that speech. The word envelope derived from the administration or meaningful correspondence envelope. In addition envelope included a letter, also can put other objects such as money. In the sentence "Give him the envelope so quickly settled matters." Envelope word meaning money. Because the word is not the envelope containing the letter containing the money but as a bribe.


Chaer, Abdul. 2003. Linguistik Umum. Jakarta: Rineka Cipta

Prawirasumantri, H Abud, dkk. 1998. Semantik Bahasa Indonesia. Jakarta: Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Bagian Penataran Guru SLTP Setara D-III

Depdiknas. 2005. KBBI: Edisi Ketiga. Jakarta: Balai Pustaka