--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At all periods of the [English] language…" description: "\"At all periods of the [English] language it is difficult to assign a beginning date to most new words and meanings. They tend to slip into the language..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a2/robert-burchfield-39223_difficult_at-all-periods-of-the-english-language-i_1733512.jpg" --- # At all periods of the \[English\] language it is difficult… ![“At all periods of the [English] language it is difficult to assign a beginning date to most new words and meanings. They tend to slip into the language silently, and are placed in date order only when scholars subsequently get to work.” quote by Robert Burchfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a2/robert-burchfield-39223_difficult_at-all-periods-of-the-english-language-i_1733512.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a2/robert-burchfield-39223_difficult_at-all-periods-of-the-english-language-i_1733512.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a2/robert-burchfield-39223_difficult_at-all-periods-of-the-english-language-i_1733512.jpg) > “At all periods of the \[English\] language it is difficult to assign a beginning date to most new words and meanings. They tend to slip into the language silently, and are placed in date order only when scholars subsequently get to work.” [Robert Burchfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burchfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Language evolves gradually; new words appear silently and are dated only after scholarly analysis. **In simple terms:** Words enter language quietly and are dated later. Key Takeaway Recognize gradual linguistic change. Themes language evolution etymology history scholarship Mood analytical curious Type academic informational When to use this quote - academic research - dictionary compilation - language teaching Key Concepts semantic shift chronology lexicography Questions to Reflect On - How do scholars determine word origins? - What impacts does this have on language study? A Different Perspective Dating words can be speculative without clear records. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [English language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-language/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Scholar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholar/) ## Related quotes > [I think I need a date...only for New Years...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-i-need-a-date-only-for-new-years/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“i am something new" you must tell yourself. 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