Lughawiyy At: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Arab P-ISSN: 2623 -2421. E-ISSN: 2654 -2579 Volume 9 Nomor 1 Tahun 2026 Semantic Shift in Arabic Vocabulary from Classical to Contemporary Usage: An Analytical Study of Modern Terms Received : 5 th July 2025 Revised : 7 th October 2025 Accepted : 4 th April 2026 Ghina Hajidah Manaf1 Nur Hasan 2 Muhammad Ichsan 3 Email: 1hajidah24@gmail. com, 2nur. hasan@unisma. 3444106187@student. 1,2Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang Indonesia King Saud University. Riyadh. Saudi Arabia Abstract Language is an evolving entity shaped by the communicative needs of its speakers. In the context of modern Arabic, changes in word meanings are one form of adaptation to the advancement of time. This study aims to analyze the semantic shifts of five Arabic vocabulary items from the classical to the modern era, identify the types of changes, and explore the underlying causes. A qualitative descriptive approach is employed, using lexical semantic analysis based on literature review. Data were collected by compiling a list of vocabulary items that exhibit meaning shifts, tracing their usage in modern sources, and comparing them with their classical meanings found in secondary references. The primary data source is the modern dictionary Mu'jam al-Ma'ani, while classical meanings are drawn from journal articles as supporting references. The findings reveal that semantic expansion is the most dominant type of change, followed by shift and total change. The contributing factors include technological development, semantic association, and the need for modern terminology. This study highlights that modern Arabic demonstrates a high degree of flexibility in adopting new terms without losing the roots of classical meanings. Keywords: Meaning Shift. Classical. Modern Context. Lexical Semantics. Introduction Language is inherently dynamic, undergoing continuous development to meet the communicative needs of its users. This evolution often involves shifts in meaning, where older words may acquire new senses or fall out of use. For instance, the word ,AOA originally meaning Aua caravan of travelers,Ay now refers to an Like all living languages. Arabic adapts to changes in its speakersAo LughawiyyAt: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Arab social and technological environments. As modern life becomes increasingly shaped by technology, new terms such as A( NA EOAsmartphon. and AIIA CIOA . igital platfor. have emerged, reflecting evolving communicative demands . Arabic is an ancient Semitic language from the descendants of Sam, son of Noah, once spread in West Asia and now known through a few rock inscriptions. Arabic also exhibits a rich dialectal diversity, ranging from fusha to colloquial varieties such as Aoammiyah. This diversity reflects both regional variation and speaker efforts to preserve linguistic heritage. Without active use and maintenance, languagesAiand particularly classical termsAirisk obsolescence, as seen in many endangered regional dialects. Arabic, like other languages, persists through usage, adapting to the changing priorities of its speaker. Contemporary Arabic is generally categorized into classical and modern 3 Modern Arabic typically appears in journalism and media 4 , while classical Arabic is found in religious texts such as the QurAoan, hadith, and traditional scholarship5 . Classical Arabic, serving as the linguistic foundation for many dialects across the Arab world, is still used in daily life, whereas Modern Standard Arabic is the preferred variety for formal, academic, and media Classical Arabic plays a significant role in religious discourse 7 and educational contexts8 , while modern Arabic has evolved as a distinct written and spoken form used across digital and public platforms9 . This linguistic bifurcation reflects broader cultural and ideological shifts among Arabic speakers 10 , especially regarding formal usage in media and education . Semantic change in Arabic vocabulary reflects ongoing transformations from traditional to contemporary usage. These changes arise from environmental shifts, 1 Yusuf Arisandi. Abdul Fatah Mufadhil, and Nurhanifansyah Nurhanifansyah. Au AOC O EEA AEO I EE AoE EA,AoAy Kilmatuna: Journal Of Arabic Education 5, no. 1 (April 30, 2. 84Ae100. 2 AoAbdul MuAoin. Analisis Konstruktif Bahasa Arab Dan Bahasa Indonesia: Telaah Terhadap Fonetik Dan Fonologi (Jakarta: Pustaka al-Husna Baru, 2. 3 Ghania Droua -Hamdani. Sid Ahmed Selouani, and Malika Boudraa. AuSpeaker-Independent ASR for Modern Standard Arabic: Effect of Regional Accents,Ay International Journal of Speech Technology 15, no. : 487Ae93, doi:10. 1007/s10772-012-9146-4. 4 Sami Boudelaa and William D. Marslen-Wilson. AuAralex: A Lexical Database for Modern Standard Arabic,Ay Behavior Research Methods 42, no. : 481Ae87, doi:10. 3758/BRM. 5 Mohammad A. Abushariah et al. AuPhonetically Rich and Balanced Arabic Speech Corpus: An Overview,Ay International Conference on Computer and Communication Engineering. IcEAo10 . June . , doi:10. 1109/IcE. 6 Boudelaa and Marslen-Wilson. AuAralex: A Lexical Database for Modern Standard Arabic. Ay 7 Christian Julien Robin. AuThe Development of Arabic as a Written Language,Ay in Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies, vol. 40, 2010. 8 Anton M. Moeliono. Perkembangan Dan Pembinaan Bahasa: Rancangan Dan Alternatif Di Dalam Perencanaan Bahasa (Jakarta: Djambatan, 1. 9 Atiqa Hachimi. AuThe Urban and The Urbane: Identities. Language Ideologies, and Arabic Dialects In Morocco,Ay Language In Society 41, no. 10 Karin C. Ryding. A Reference Grammar of Modern Standard Arabic. Sustainability (Switzerlan. , vol. 11 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2. LughawiyyAt: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Arab linguistic innovation, cultural exchange, and scientific advancement. Meaning change may occur through processes such as broadening, narrowing, borrowing based on necessity or association, and even complete semantic and morphological Unlike many languages that adopt foreign terms wholesale. Arabic often adapts and generates new vocabulary through institutional efforts, particularly by official Arabic language academies12 . Semantic study, therefore, not only illuminates patterns of lexical change but also reveals deeper cognitive and cultural dynamics within language communities. Several recent studies have examined semantic change in Arabic vocabulary. Mahfouz . 13 analyzed QurAoanic and Hadith words whose semantic change may cause misunderstanding in contemporary contexts. Similarly. Awny et al. 14 investigated address terms in Egyptian Colloquial Arabic and found that semantic broadening was the dominant type of change. Abouzahr and Abouzahr . 15 compared classical Arabic with various dialects, revealing lexical and semantic overlaps as well as divergences. Attaullah and Hassan . 16 examined semantic development between old and modern dictionaries, showing that societal change plays a major role in shaping meaning. Nabilah et al. explored semantic shifts in Arabic communication on social media and documented the emergence of new terms influenced by digital culture. Although semantic change in Arabic has been widely studied, little research has specifically examined how classical vocabulary undergoes semantic shifts in contemporary, particularly digital and technological, contexts. This study seeks to fill that gap by analyzing selected Arabic words that have experienced meaning transformations, while also identifying the social and technological factors behind In doing so, it contributes new insights into the dynamics of meaning and the flexibility of modern Arabic in adapting to changing communicative needs. Method This study employs a qualitative descriptive method aimed at explaining lexical meaning changes in Arabic vocabulary from the classical to the modern era. This approach was chosen as it allows the researcher to explore semantic phenomena in 11 Nelis Jamilah Ilmiatun. AuPerkembangan Makna Bahasa Arab,Ay Diwan: Jurnal Bahasa Dan Sastra Arab 14, no. : 133Ae43, doi:10. 15548/diwan. 12 Mugy Nugraha. AuTradisi Semantik Arab Klasik Dan Modern,Ay Jurnal Pendidikan Tambusai 8, 3 . 13 Adel Refaat Mahfouz. AuSemantic Change-Induced Misunderstanding in the QurAoyn and adyth,Ay Egyptian Journal of Linguistics and Translation 'EJLTAo 8, no. : 319Ae36. 14 Saudi Sadiq and Naglaa Ahmed Awny. AuFrom Past to Present: Exploring Semantic Change in Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Address Terms,Ay Journal of Languages and Translation 11, no. : 64Ae99, doi:10. 21608/jltmin. 15 Hossameddine Abouzahr and Mohammed Abouzahr. AuLexical and Lexical-Semantic Comparisons of Classical Arabic and Dialects,Ay International Journal of Arabic Linguistics 10 . : 66Ae98. 16 Attaullah and Youssef Mustafa Hassan. AuAEOO eO EEA EO OI EII ECOI EEOO A,Ay ACTA ISLAMICA 9, no. : 219Ae44. 17 Farah Farhatun Nabilah. Alfi Nashrullah Romadan, and Nur Hasaniyah. AuSemantic Analysis of Arabic Language in Chat Communication and Social Media: Meaning Shifts and Formation of New Terms,Ay Abjadia : International Journal of Education 10, no. : 117Ae25, doi:10. 18860/abj. LughawiyyAt: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Arab depth through written documents, without involving field data collection. The primary data source is MuAojam al-MaAoani, an online modern Arabic dictionary that provides contemporary definitions of frequently used Arabic vocabulary. Meanwhile, classical meanings were obtained from secondary referencesAi namely, academic articles that cite and explain classical definitions based on traditional texts or historical dictionaries. The researcher conducted data collection and selection by compiling a list of vocabulary items that have undergone semantic changes. This was done by tracing the use of each word in modern sources and comparing it to classical definitions found in secondary sources. A total of five words were purposively selected based on their prevalence in digital media. The selection was also guided by the significant emergence and semantic relevance of the words in contemporary contexts, such as in the fields of technology or social discourse. This was intended to ensure that the analysis remains relevant to the dynamics of contemporary Arabic language usage. The data were then analyzed qualitatively using a lexical semantic approach. Each vocabulary item was examined to identify changes between its classical and modern meanings. These changes were compared and classified into categories of semantic changeAisuch as broadening, narrowing, or shiftAiand were followed by an explanation of the contributing factors, including the influence of popular culture, technological advancement, and media language adaptation . A flowchart illustrating the process of vocabulary analysis is provided as a simple visualization of the analytical steps. Vocabulary Selection Tracing classical and modern meanings Comparison and analysis Classification of types of semantic change Analysis of causal factors Figure 1 Vocabulary analysis process Results and Discussions This section presents the results of the analysis on several Arabic vocabulary items that have undergone semantic changes from the classical to the modern Each word is analyzed based on its classical and modern meanings, classified by the type of change it experienced, along with the influencing The analysis focuses on five vocabulary items, each of which is discussed across three dimensions: . classical meaning, . modern meaning, and . type LughawiyyAt: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Arab of change and its causes. The discussion is structured sequentially to make it easier for readers to understand the observed semantic shifts. The main focus of this section is to explain how the lexical meanings of the selected words have evolved over time and in relation to their usage contextAiespecially in light of technological development and media culture. The following table provides a preliminary summary of the semantic shifts from classical to modern meanings, along with the type of semantic change Table 1 Semantic shifts from classical to modern usage Classical Modern Vocabulary Meaning Meaning AOA ANAA AIIAA AIOEA AEA A caravan of Inner voice platform for To lift or The human Type of Change Car . rivate Semantic Telephone Total semantic Digital Semantic shift Download . igital data Shift Computer or Semantic A more detailed analysis of each vocabulary item will follow, covering its classical and modern meanings, the type of semantic shift, and the underlying causal factors. AOA Classical Meaning: The word sayyArah appears in the Qur'an. Surah Yusuf verse 19: AuayAO O U AEO ONIA In classical Arabic, sayyArah referred to a group of travelers or a caravan. According to the Tafsir Jalalain, as explored in Faridl HakimAos research, sayyArah described a group of people traveling from Midian to Egypt, who stopped near the well where Prophet Yusuf had been placed. In Tafsir alMuyassar, it means a group of people on a journey, and Tafsir Ibn Kathir adds that their arrival was divinely orchestrated to rescue the Prophet Yusuf 18 . Modern Meaning: In al-MaAoani dictionary, sayyArah is translated as "car" or "automobile. " The modern interpretation include. a group of people traveling together, a four18 Faridl Hakim. AuPERGESERAN DAN PERUBAHAN MAKNA KATA A OADALAM ALQURAN,Ay Alqalam 34, no. : 18Ae28. LughawiyyAt: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Arab wheeled, fuel-powered vehicle, a celestial object . , plane. orbiting the Type of Semantic Change: This is categorized as semantic broadening (A)OO eA. The original meaningAilimited to a group of travelersAihas expanded to refer to individual motorized transportation. While the core idea of AutravelAy remains, the reference has become more concrete and personalized. Causal Factors: The change in the meaning of sayyArah is driven by the development of transportation technology and the need for society to name new objects using existing, semantically related terms. The shift also reflects language adaptation to social and cultural dynamics, which often require practical terminology 20 . ANAA Classical Meaning: Originally, haatif referred to a disembodied voice, something heard but with no visible speaker. According to classical dictionaries, it is defined as Au"A AO AO OI OE OO ANA:"AI AO NA EI O IANA Aua soft voice that is heard without a known source. Ay One illustrative example describes an individual encountering two majestic angels and hearing a voice commanding them not to frighten him, a voice perceived but without a visible Modern Meaning: In modern Arabic, haatif refers specifically to a telephone, as listed in the alMaAoani dictionary. The term now denotes a concrete device used for verbal Type of Semantic Change: This represents a total semantic change (A)O EEO EEOA, a shift from an abstract or spiritual meaning to a tangible technological object. While both meanings relate to sound or voice, their function and form differ significantly. Causal Factors: Several factors contributed to this semantic change: Technological advancement in communication, which required new terminology for inventions like the telephone. Semantic association, since a telephone delivers voices without seeing the speaker, similar to the original concept of haatif. Lexical need in modern Arabic, which often reassigns old terms to new objects rather than borrowing foreign 19 M. Adriani Yulizar. AuUniversalitas Makna Kosa Kata Dalam Al-QurAoan Di Tengah Arus Perkembangan Makna Kosa Kata Bahasa Arab Modern,Ay Journal Islamic Education 1, no. 20 Chusnul Chotimah. AuPerubahan Makna Pada Penggunaan Istilah -Istilah Teknologi Informasi Dan Komunikasi Dalam Media Internasional : Telaah Studi Semantik,Ay in KNM BSA (Konferensi Nasional Mahasiswa Bahasa Dan Sastra Ara. , 2024, 1252Ae71. 21 Mahridawati Mahridawati. AuPergeseran Semantik/Semantic Shifting,Ay Al-Fathin: Jurnal Bahasa Dan Sastra Arab 1, no. : 52, doi:10. 32332/al-fathin. 22 Miftahul Mufid and Devi Eka Diantika. Pengantar Semantik Bahasa Arab Teori Dan Praktik. Muhammad Rizky Al Mubarok, 1st ed. (Malang: Madza Media, 2. LughawiyyAt: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Arab AIIAA Classical Meaning: Derived from the root a- a- AIA, minassah referred to a raised platform used for speeches or public announcements. It typically denoted a physical structure, such as a podium or stage used in formal or royal settings24 . Modern Meaning: In modern usage, particularly in digital and technological contexts, minassah refers to a digital platform, an online medium or system for content sharing, information dissemination, or virtual interaction 25 . Type of Semantic Change: This is a semantic shift (A )OE EEOAfrom a literal/physical platform to an abstract/virtual one. Despite the change in form, the core function delivering messages to an audience remains consistent. Causal Factors: The rise of social media and digital platforms, which demanded new terminology that retained familiar functions 26 . Metaphorical association, where the physical concept of a stage is applied to a virtual environment. Cultural localization, as Arabic adapted digital terminology using familiar roots to make them more accessible and culturally resonant. AIOEA Classical Meaning: Tahml is a verbal noun derived from uammala, meaning to load or carry a It was commonly used in contexts such as placing goods on camels or Modern Meaning: In modern Arabic, especially in tech contexts, tahml refers to downloading digital data from the internet to an electronic device. Type of Semantic Change: This is a combination of semantic shift and metaphorization ( AOE EEOA A)OE eOA. The transition is from a physical act of loading to a conceptual oneAitransferring digital data into a device. The metaphor remains rooted in the idea of Auplacing a loadAy into something. Causal Factors: The need to adapt Arabic to digital technology terminology. A preference in Arabic to repurpose existing roots rather than import foreign terms27 . 23 Erwan Kustriyono. AuPERUBAHAN MAKNA DAN FAKTOR PENYEBAB PERUBAHAN MAKNA DALAM MEDIA CETAK (Kajian Semantik Jurnalisti. ,Ay Bahastra xV, no. 24 Chotimah. AuPerubahan Makna Pada Penggunaan Istilah -Istilah Teknologi Informasi Dan Komunikasi Dalam Media Internasional : Telaah Studi Semantik. Ay 25 Ibid. 26 Jasmine Azizah Nur Inayah et al. AuPengaruh Media Sosial Terhadap Perkembangan Bahasa Gaul Di Kalangan Remaja Gunungsitoli,Ay Protasis: Jurnal Bahasa. Sastra. Budaya. Dan Pengajarannya 3, no. : 3610Ae16, doi:10. 54373/imeij. 27 Umi Kulsum. AuArabisasi Sebagai Modernisasi Bahasa Arab Dan Semangat Nasionalism,Ay AlFathin 6 . : 1Ae18. LughawiyyAt: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Arab . Semantic and metaphorical associations, the act of downloading is conceptually similar to AuloadingAy something into a container. Influence of technological globalization, where Arabic reinterprets tech concepts using its own lexical system28 . AEA Classical Meaning: The word dzaakirah derives from the root AA- AEA-A A, which is associated with remembering or recalling. In classical Arabic, it referred to the natural human ability to rememberAiused in contexts such as psychological, spiritual, or intellectual activity. Modern Meaning: In modern Arabic, particularly in the realm of technology, dzaakirah denotes digital memory or data storage media, such as RAM, flash drives, or hard Type of Semantic Change: This is an instance of semantic broadening (A)OO eA, where the original meaning of human memory has expanded to include the concept of artificial or digital memory. While the domains are different, both share the function of storing information. Causal Factors: Functional analogy between the human brain and electronic devices: computers are often viewed metaphorically as AuthinkingAy entities. The need for logical and familiar terminology in Arabic: rather than borrowing from foreign languages, the word dzaakirah was retained and extended 29 . Global influence of computer science, where many technological terms are modeled after cognitive or psychological processes. Table 2 Classification of types of semantic change Type of Semantic Brief Explanation Vocabulary Change Semantic broadening A EA,AOA Classical meaning extended modern technological contexts Total ANAA Abstract meaning replaced by a concrete technological object Semantic shift AIIAA Physical concept reinterpreted as a digital/virtual equivalent Metaphorization AIOEA Physical 28 Imam Wahyudi. Zainuri, and Muhammad Sulaiman. AuEksplorasi Dinamika Peminjaman Kata Dalam Bahasa Arab Modern : Studi Kasus Pada Bidang Teknologi Dan Sains,Ay ALLE: Arabic of Language and Linguistics Education 2, no. : 74Ae82. 29 Ida Nursida. AuPerubahan Makna Sebab Dan Bentuknya: Sebuah Kajian Historis,Ay Al-Faz 2, no. : 46Ae61. LughawiyyAt: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Arab Type of Semantic Change Vocabulary Brief Explanation A comparative overview of the five vocabulary items shows that semantic broadening is the most dominant type of change, followed by metaphorical shift and total change. Comparative Diagram of Types of Semantic Change Semantic broadening Total semantic change Semantic shift Metaphorization Figure 2 A comparison of the frequency of semantic change types in the analyzed vocabulary Based on the analysis of these five vocabulary items, it is evident that semantic change in modern Arabic reflects the languageAos response to technological, social, and cultural developments. The processes of broadening, shifting, and even total change demonstrate Arabic's high adaptability to the demands of contemporary communication. The comparative diagram further illustrates the prevalence of semantic broadening, followed by metaphorical shifts and total semantic changes30 . These findings align with linguistic theories that view meaning change not merely as a linguistic phenomenon but also as a reflection of sociocultural dynamics. The need to name new objects or concepts, especially in the realm of technology plays a crucial role in driving these changes. Furthermore, these results correspond to existing theories that suggest semantic change is not random but follows observable patterns influenced by external factors. Wars, migration, revolutions, and cultural exchanges have historically contributed to shifts in meaning. The dominance of broadening, as shown in this study, aligns with this adaptive role of language31 . In the book AuJejak Bahasa Arab dan Perubahan Semantik Al-QurAoanAy, semantic shifts in Arabic may occur due to changes in the 30 Siti Miftahatul Jannah. Lalu Agus Satriawan, and Abdul Rasyid Ridho. AuANALISIS PERUBAHAN MAKNA BAHASA ARAB Ae INDONESIA,Ay J-Simbol: Jurnal Magister Pendidikan Bahasa Dan Sastra Indonesia 13, no. : 387Ae96. 31 Ramazan Mese and Furkan Taysan. AuThe Reasons for Semantic Changes in The Arabic Language,Ay EBSCO 27, no. : 283, doi:10. 58568/firatilahiyat. LughawiyyAt: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Arab elements, nature, character, or function of a term within society that are associated with the name or expression in question. Additional studies have emphasized that Arabic tends to accommodate new concepts not by borrowing foreign terms, but by expanding the meanings of existing words33 . Terms like dzaakirah and tahmiil demonstrate this preference for semantic extension over lexical importation. According to linguistic adaptation theory, languages often respond to societal and technological change through lexical expansion or resemanticization, rather than direct borrowing34 . Although this study does not focus on amelioration or pejoration, such changes are still part of the broader semantic landscape in Arabic 35 . Motivations for semantic change include not only linguistic factors, but also social-psychological influences36 , such as shifts in values or attitudes within the speaker community. Multiple factors such as historical, linguistic, psychological, and cultural collectively shape the way meaning evolves in Arabic vocabulary37 . Thus, this analysis not only reinforces existing semantic theories but also contributes to our understanding of how modern Arabic adapts to the everchanging demands of communication through meaning transformation. Conclusion This study aimed to analyze the semantic changes in five Arabic vocabulary items from classical to modern usage, including the types of changes and their underlying causes. The analysis revealed that semantic broadening is the most dominant type, followed by semantic shifts and total semantic changes. These five vocabulary items have undergone semantic transformation in response to speakersAo needs in technological contexts. While the terms were not borrowed from foreign languages, they were adapted from existing vocabulary. Several words experienced shifts due to semantic and metaphorical associations, where the original meanings maintained conceptual relevance. The findings demonstrate that modern Arabic possesses a high degree of flexibility in adopting contemporary terms without losing the roots of their classical meanings. Although modern dictionaries still record the classical meanings of some words, their modern usages have become widespread among speakers. Further research may explore a broader range of vocabulary, 32 Sugeng Sugiyono. Jejak Bahasa Arab Dan Semantik Al-QurAoan, 1st ed. (Yogyakarta: Suka Press, 2. 33 Asst Lecturer Lubna and Ali Kadhim. AuThe Semantic Change in English and Arabic: A Contrastive Study,Ay Journal of Al-Qadisiya University 15, no. 34 Khojijah Salsabela and Ainur Rofiq Sofa. AuKosakata Serapan Dalam Bahasa Arab Pada Buku Al- Ao Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk : Kajian Linguistik Kontemporer,Ay Dinamika Pembelajaran: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Bahasa 2, no. 35 Zahrani. AuPERKEMBANGAN MAKNA BAHASA ARAB (Analisis Semantik Terhadap Istilah-Istilah Syariat Dalam Al-QurAoa. Ay (UIN Alauddin Makassar, 2. 36 Zamroni. Muhammad Nur Amin, and Eka Prasetiawati. AuAnalisis FuqarA Dalam Surah Al-Nur Ayat 32: Kajian Tafsir Al Munr Perspektif Morfologi Derivarif Dan Semantik,Ay QurAoanic Interpretation Journal 1, no. : 24Ae36. 37 M Wildan Awwiby. Karyani Karyani, and Rina Dian Rahmawati. AuPERUBAHAN MAKNA DALAM BERITA ARAB Aljazeera. Net,Ay Al-Lahjah : Jurnal Pendidikan. Bahasa Arab. Dan Kajian Linguistik Arab 4, no. : 482Ae93, doi:10. 32764/allahjah. LughawiyyAt: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Arab particularly in the field of technology, to identify wider patterns of semantic Alternatively, future studies could examine modern meanings in other domains, such as social or cultural contexts. References