Why do we have so many different words for things instead of simple universal words?

[smahala1991]

Like why do we have different words for soda like Pop, coke, cola, soda etc… instead of just calling it soda? It would be better to have one word we can all agree on for individual things rather than forty eleven others.

[hahahmm]

Because there were a lot of regional & cultural differences in a time before the Internet. It's like asking why do people use different words when I go to a country on the other side of the world. When I was growing up you would read books to increase your vocabulary/learn about other places. A single word might have 3+ different meanings but because you saw it used in context you would understand all of the meanings. So there used to be way more meanings for words being used than now. As people push globalism they want to dumb everything down. Search engines would return 1 meaning for a word instead of the 3+ based on context. The search engine would give people the impression that there was only 1 meaning. I guess it's the verbal equivalent of women all over the world starting to look like kim kardashian clones.

Eventually -- if the people who love simplicity get their way -- you will only need one word: Baaaaaaa. A sheep word of ancient origin but it's all you need if the people in charge of all the words tell you what to think, how to act, how there are more genders today than last week & so on.

[RebelinSteel]

We do have simple universal words

flat
appetizer
fringe
hairslide
grill
grill
sweet (s)
mobile phone
crisps
snakes and ladders
wardrobe
biscuit
candyfloss
anticlockwise
cot
nappy
chemist
aubergine
junior school, primary school
lift
motorway
chips
dustbin
petrol
bonnet
skipping rope
number plate
off-licence
postbox
oven glove
dummy
trousers
tights
car park
parting
full stop
public school
state school
dressing gown
shopping trolley
pavement
sledge
trainers
football
hundreds and thousands
pushchair
underground
braces
jumper
takeaway
drawing pin
noughts and crosses
boot
indicator
vest
holiday
waistcoat
flannel
postcode
courgette

it is very easy.

[Rosexøxø]

Because everyone evolved freely by themselves.

It’s like asking why don’t we have one universal language. All the tribes? 🤷‍♀️ Ancient conciliations? 🤷‍♀️

Everyone evolved freely in their own ways, times, and places. And with their own peoples.

I think it’s a beautiful thing.

[Rosexøxø]

Civilizations* lol 😆

[Sour-rose]

Honestly, different states, different words, I've learned. 🤷‍♀️

[NamerOfStars]

Pancakes. Griddle cakes. Hotcakes. Flapjacks. Four names for grilled batter, one word for love.

George Carlin made that observation decades ago. I just want to know why a society with FOUR NAMES for pancakes doesn't exhibit more care of and attention to them.

[Abbycado]

Is this really worth thinking about to post on the internet? 🤦‍♀️

[DryGermanGuy]

Which is especially funny since soda is carbonated water and mostly used for unhealthy sugar products. 🙄

[Still-alive]

Frankly i like how we have different words for things. for writers particularly you can get really poetic and imaginative with it.

[Rosexøxø]

Agreed 💯

[Walksbehindtherows]

No. According to your logic, we should call all women Jane and all men John.

[FunkyMonkee]

"forty eleven"?

[smahala1991]

It’s a term for a lot

[smahala1991]

Like fuckton

[FunkyMonkee]

What's fuckton?

[smahala1991]

It means a lot

[FunkyMonkee]

I just say, a ton.
What's the difference between a fuckton, a shitton and any other kind of ton? A ton is a ton. It doesn't matter what it's made of, it still weighs a ton. How does one weigh a fuck?

[AviatorTom]

There's beauty in diversity. Embrace it. 🙄

[jahaims]

Language develops regionally

[msc545]

this is part of the culture.