‘Literally’ has a ‘new’, secondary meaning.
This from Merriam-Webster:
literally (adverb) 1 in a literal sense or manner; actually. 2 in effect; virtually.
The interweb has exploded – again – with posts and comments from people outraged that the dictionary has been updated – again.
There’s even an online petition which asks Google to ‘please do your small part to keep the world from turning upside down, and stand for a definition of “literally” that has not been hijacked by language pirates’.
Sigh. And yawn. Again.
How many times have you heard someone use ‘literally’ to mean ‘figuratively’? Seen it written somewhere?
Perhaps someone said something like, “Oh my god, I literally died laughing.” A sentence that, given the person’s ability to utter it, didn’t make a whole lot of ‘literal’ sense. (Although, if you remove the word ‘literally’, it still doesn’t make a whole lot of ‘literal’ sense. But I digress.)
Or perhaps they said, “I literally peed my pants from laughing so hard.” An occurrence that’s plausible, but that you’re pretty sure didn’t actually happen.
Or perhaps you’ve read Little Women. Or Nicholas Nickleby. Yes, there are 19th century literary examples of ‘literally’ being used in the second sense listed above.
I’ve heard it. I’ve seen it. A lot. A lot a lot a lot a lot.
And you know what? I don’t like it. I’m happy to admit it. In fact, I cringe a little inside when I hear it. I don’t like ‘literally’ being used as an emphasis marker. At all.
But like schmike. Who cares if I like it or not? It happens. It’s out there. People use it this way. People have been using it this way for a long time. We understand what people mean when they use ‘literally’.
The dictionary has, once again, simply caught up. It happened last year with misogyny. And it’s happened again.
Inevitably.
Our language has a long history of adding to the meaning of words, changing the meaning of words, and finding other words to replace the original meaning of words when that meaning no longer stands.
Worried you won’t know which definition applies when? Don’t be. Context will provide the answer. So many words in our language have multiple meanings. If context really doesn’t help, choose another word. Like seriously. Or actually. Or totally seriously actually truly honestly cross my heart and hope to die.
Literally has more than one meaning. Deal with it. Or I will literally explode in frustration.
What do you think of the ‘new’ meaning of literally? Love it? Loathe it? Couldn’t care less about it?
More fun reading on the topic
The Telegraph: No we haven’t ‘literally killed’ the English language. Or metaphorically killed it. Stand down, semantics nerds
Buzzfeed: The Wrong Definition of “Literally” is Literally Going in the Dictionary
Slate: A Reminder About “Literally”
The Shake: They’ve literally broken the word literally. LITERALLY.
I think the evolution of language is fascinating! I dislike the figurative use of literally, but then again, as you say, the dictionary must eventually respond to common usage. There was no original, pure dictionary that laid down the law – it’s always been a work in progress. Great post!
Thanks, Lara. That’s it – it’s not a rulebook, it’s a reflection of use.
It annoys me, but I surrender. However I think the dictionary should add, “Sometimes used by ignorant people as emphasis, much like the word actually is mistakenly used by numbskulls to emphasize a fact that does not need reinforcement.
Interesting. I’d love to read a Cranky-authored dictionary!
I agree entirely with you Emily…’literally’? no! no! no! thanks for sharing askatoddler.com
Thanks! Literally!
hmmmm I don’t like the added definition. Actually and virtually? Oh so confusing!! In my opionion, each definition cancels the other out.
I don’t see them overlapping for long. ‘Literally’ is heading the way ‘quite’ did – we’ll find a new word to use soon enough. If we haven’t already.
I think it is just evolution. Our language changes for better, for worse and I’m okay with it.
That’s it! I read a blog post the other day that mentioned a family lolling about the lounge room. I pictured them all guffawing instead of lazing. Evolution. Can’t help it.
I cringe at misused words, but I accept that majority always rules eventually. I doubt it matters much when it’s just a word, but I really stand firm on correct use of phrases. My personal hate/fave is “I couldn’t care less” being said as “I could care less”. Well, if you could care less then it’s not that bad, right? RIGHT!?!? x
‘I could care less’ is the accepted version in the US. People will argue with you all week on that one over there!
It bothers me, but then I’m also 99% sure I’ve used the word ‘literally’ in the figurative sense myself on at least one occasion so I’m not sure why it bothers me!
Visiting via the DP Blog Carnival 🙂
Haha, hooray for your honesty! Thanks for hosting the Blog Carnival.
The problem with a living language is that it has to adapt – which irrits the carp out of pedants in every nook! I see where you are coming from, I see where it is going to and I remain bemused.
I create and strangulate language all the time, so I am not one to pass judgement.
I’m always inventing new words. They don’t catch on quite as much as ‘literally’ has, though!
Doesn’t bother me and guilty as charged. When the telephone was invented, no one knew how to answer it so would just pick up and say nothing. You can see the problem. Bell suggested ‘Ahoy’ as the greeting (so disappointed we didn’t go with that) but they went with ‘hello’. Somehow, lazy people also started saying it when they met in person (the horror!). Now look at us – how rare is it to see someone and say good afternoon? Language changes and evolves.
YES YES YES! Love that story! Thanks for sharing.
I am no literary expert but I did learn during a business grammer course about the misuse of “Basically” and how not to use it! Visitng from teh DP Carnival too.
I learnt at a business grammar course of the misuse of the word “Basically” – funny now I always avoid it in my writing. Visiting from the DP Blog Carnival.
Ah yes, sometimes that’s the easiest way. If you don’t get it or don’t like it, don’t use it!
Awesome post! I studied lexicography in another life, and it was important to understand that dictionaries are not the legislators of language use, but the describers of it. A lot of people fight against this, including some dictionary-makers. I couldn’t agree with you more – language is a living thing, and we should embrace all its odd evolutions, not scream into the uncaring night (as it were..). Popping in from Digital Carnival to say hi 🙂
Lexicographers unite! #fistpump
No-one will bat an eyelid at ‘literally’ in the future. Just like we don’t with ‘quite’ and ‘really’ now.
Even if the definition has changed..I still reverse my right to think people are idiots for using it in the second, new way.
Thanks for linking up with us at The Lounge!
My boys use the word literally figuratively as a result of reading the Diary Of A Wimpy Kid series. It must be Jeff Kinney’s fault. Literally. Well…maybe…