Studying Semantic Drift and How It Affects ESL Learners' Linguistics and Literary Understanding

Abstract

This study delves into semantic drift or change in English words, paying particular attention to how some common words' meanings have changed over time. Language is constantly changing. The process by which a word's meaning changes over time is known as "semantic drift." Words can change in both their literal meaning and their actual use. This study analyzed semantic change from a different perspective. This research focused on words that change meaning quickly. English is another area of attention for this investigation. The study examines how well these users adjust to changes in meaning. Additionally, it enables us to assess users' level of knowledge regarding the many interpretations of the same words. Another objective of this study is to determine whether semantic change affects readers' comprehension of literature that employs the words that experienced semantic change. The findings present mixed results that add value to the quality paradigms of semantic drift-related knowledge, thus aligned with Goal 4 of UNICEF’s 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). One important aspect of this study's quality was the creation of a closed-ended questionnaire that focused on fifteen words whose definitions have evolved throughout time. The 50 female responders represented a wide variety of educational backgrounds. The results were examined using pie chart analysis. The results showed that although the majority of ESL students can keep up with semantic change, a sizeable percentage still struggles to understand the process. The results also showed how little second-language English learners understand about the historical meanings of words. ESL pupils are unable to comprehend a word that has changed throughout time as it should be understood when it comes to literary work. This might be viewed as a drawback of semantic shift. Therefore, it was determined that while ESL students may adapt to change, the majority of them struggle to understand literature as it is meant to be comprehended.