A Basic Linguistic Lesson: The Difference between Etymology and Semantics

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Words aren't simply tools for communication—they're weapons of conquest and subjugation. In this mind-expanding episode, linguistic scholars Yisrael Bay and Abdullah Bay unpack the crucial distinction between etymology (the historical origin of words) and semantics (their current meaning and usage), revealing how this difference has been weaponized to erase cultural identities.

The brothers deliver a masterclass in linguistic methodology, demonstrating how words evolve—or more accurately, how they're deliberately transformed—to serve political purposes. Using examples like the word "color" (which etymologically means "to cover or conceal" but semantically has become a racial classifier), they illustrate how language has been manipulated to strip people of their heritage, nationality, and sovereignty.

Most powerfully, Abdullah Bay explains how this linguistic manipulation constitutes cultural genocide under international law. When states like Spain, France, England, and later the United States reclassified Moors as "Negro," "black," or "colored" in official documents, they committed acts of subjugation by erasing cultural identity and national sovereignty. This subjugation cannot be addressed in U.S. courts but requires international legal remedies—a crucial distinction that has prevented many from seeking appropriate justice.

The presentation breaks down the dimensions of semantics, including how words change through narrowing, broadening, pejoration, and reappropriation. For example, "America" originally referred to indigenous peoples across North, Central, and South America but has been narrowed to mean only U.S. citizens. Understanding these mechanisms of linguistic manipulation provides tools for reclaiming authentic cultural identity.

Want to decolonize your language and reclaim your cultural heritage? Start by understanding the etymological roots of the words you use daily. As Philip K. Dick noted, "The basic tool for manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words"—and recognizing this manipulation is the first step toward liberation.

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NYPTALKSHOW EP.1 HOSTED BY RON BROWNLMT & MIKEY FEVER

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