THE EVOLUTION OF MEANING: A PHILOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF SEMANTIC CHANGE ACROSS HISTORICAL PERIODS

Abstract

Language is a living system that evolves continuously, reflecting social, cultural, and cognitive transformations within human communities. This paper explores semantic change through the lens of historical philology, emphasizing how meanings of words shift over time due to linguistic innovation, contact, and contextual reinterpretation. By tracing examples from Indo-European languages—particularly English and Latin—this study examines major types of semantic change, including broadening, narrowing, amelioration, pejoration, and metaphorical transfer. The paper also considers the role of historical context, such as cultural values and technological advancements, in shaping semantic evolution. Using diachronic analysis, philologists can reconstruct not only linguistic transformations but also the cultural and intellectual histories they encode. This article argues that the study of semantic change remains central to understanding the dynamic interplay between language and society. Ultimately, philological investigation offers critical insights into how human thought, culture, and communication are reflected in the ever-shifting meanings of words