Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Semantic change refers to the process by which words acquire new meanings over time or in different contexts, particularly as they transition between disciplines. This shift in meaning, especially when words are adopted as terms in multiple academic areas, often leads to confusion and ambiguity. This study focuses on the terms "agent" and "ontology," tracing their semantic evolution over time and across disciplines to understand how their meanings differ between fields such as philosophy, law, and artificial intelligence. Drawing on insights from Boon and Van Baalen's metacognitive framework, the analysis demonstrates how understanding these differences can help prevent miscommunication.
Authors: Christopher Rausch, Hyung Wook Choi, Mat Kelly
Institution: Drexel University
Language: English
Subfield: Language and Linguistics
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4405366276