Taiga
23rd July 2006, 20:10
I'm not an expert in Linguistics but I've always been interested in words' pedigree. So now I'm reflecting upon words "Right" and "Left". As we all know, in many cultures right is considered to be good and left - bad. Examples - right and left hand, in some cultures to give something with the left hand is an offense. Also they say that there is an angel on the right shoulder and devil on the left, et cetera, et cetera. There are so many examples. I wonder why it is so :o
All these superstitions were reflected in language. In so many languages including English these two words mean not only direction but also attitude.
English
right
1. Conforming with or conformable to justice, law, or morality: do the right thing and confess.
2. In accordance with fact, reason, or truth; correct: the right answer.
3. Fitting, proper, or appropriate: It is not right to leave the party without saying goodbye.
4. Most favorable, desirable, or convenient: the right time to act.
5. In or into a satisfactory state or condition: put things right.
6. In good mental or physical health or order.
7. Intended to be worn or positioned facing outward or toward an observer: the right side of the dress; made sure that the right side of the fabric was visible.
9. often Right Of or belonging to the political or intellectual right.
12. Archaic. Not spurious; genuine.
French
gauche - awkward, clumsy, gawky, graceless, ham-handed, heavy-handed, inelegant, left, left-handed, left side, left wing, maladroit, ungainly, ungraceful
Italian
retto -
1. good
2. honest
3. honorable
4. rectum
5. right
6. right-angled
7. righteous
8. square
9. upright
10. upstanding
11. virtuous
Russian
правый - right, good, correct
левый - left, bad, faked
These are only few examples.
Now let's move to the politics. As Wikipedia says,
The term originates from the French Revolution, when liberal deputies from the Third Estate generally sat to the left of the president's chair, a habit which began in the Estates General of 1789. The nobility, members of the Second Estate, generally sat to the right. It is still the tradition in the French Assemblée Nationale for the representatives to be seated left-to-right (relative to the Assemblée president) according to their political alignment.
so it was all about directions but not "good" and "bad".
But do the meanings of these words affect human brains somehow? It's so easy to manipulate the words. "We are RIGHT", "You are on the RIGHT side", etc. Do people associate subconsciously right parties with correct politics and left with something bad, wrong?
All these superstitions were reflected in language. In so many languages including English these two words mean not only direction but also attitude.
English
right
1. Conforming with or conformable to justice, law, or morality: do the right thing and confess.
2. In accordance with fact, reason, or truth; correct: the right answer.
3. Fitting, proper, or appropriate: It is not right to leave the party without saying goodbye.
4. Most favorable, desirable, or convenient: the right time to act.
5. In or into a satisfactory state or condition: put things right.
6. In good mental or physical health or order.
7. Intended to be worn or positioned facing outward or toward an observer: the right side of the dress; made sure that the right side of the fabric was visible.
9. often Right Of or belonging to the political or intellectual right.
12. Archaic. Not spurious; genuine.
French
gauche - awkward, clumsy, gawky, graceless, ham-handed, heavy-handed, inelegant, left, left-handed, left side, left wing, maladroit, ungainly, ungraceful
Italian
retto -
1. good
2. honest
3. honorable
4. rectum
5. right
6. right-angled
7. righteous
8. square
9. upright
10. upstanding
11. virtuous
Russian
правый - right, good, correct
левый - left, bad, faked
These are only few examples.
Now let's move to the politics. As Wikipedia says,
The term originates from the French Revolution, when liberal deputies from the Third Estate generally sat to the left of the president's chair, a habit which began in the Estates General of 1789. The nobility, members of the Second Estate, generally sat to the right. It is still the tradition in the French Assemblée Nationale for the representatives to be seated left-to-right (relative to the Assemblée president) according to their political alignment.
so it was all about directions but not "good" and "bad".
But do the meanings of these words affect human brains somehow? It's so easy to manipulate the words. "We are RIGHT", "You are on the RIGHT side", etc. Do people associate subconsciously right parties with correct politics and left with something bad, wrong?