A Defining Moment

[Arkan_Wolfshade]

. . . a massive game of theological whack-a-mole.

 

[PrincessIneffabelle]

Okay guys, I was having an awesome time, but now I'm starting to get nauseous ...

 

[Cuddles]

I think English is quite an unusual language in that it is used by so many people yet has no "official body" that determines what the language is. For instance Spanish, French and German all have an official body that states what is right or wrong in the language. Since English doesn't in the end the only meaningful standard to use in English is "Do other people understand me".

The thing is, while other languages do have official bodies to say what is and isn't correct, that doesn't actually make much difference to how the language is actually used. For example, "le weekend" is officialy not French, yet it is used by virtually everyone. I suppose it depends on what you define as "the language". Some languages may have an official "the language", but for all practical purposes they are used in exactly the same way as English.

 

[UserGoogol]

I'm very much of the "language is defined by use" philosophy. (Although it is important to note how exactly they are used. Words which are widely used but also widely regarded as wrong like irregardless, for instance, should be avoided.) Language evolves so much that any attempt to be a purist about language tends to collapse when facing the baroque realities of etymology. The purpose of language is to be able to communicate. As long as everyone agrees on what the language means, communication can go on easily. Purism is just needless conservatism.

But more to the point, you are factually wrong. I have access to the OED because I'm a college student, and thus can look up things like this. The word massive has been used to mean merely big (or things of that sort) for about as long as it's been used. One such example the OED gives (not the earliest, but the earliest that is clearly Modern English) is "The griping critic..wades through massive volumes in search of faults." written in 1756. Way back in 1420 is the more archaic "Among wer medled..whyte perlis massyf, large, & rounde" which is the oldest usage of the word and doesn't exactly sound like they were talking about density. (Although I don't fully grasp what is being said.) So booyah.