The true story of 'true' - Gina Cooke
445,860 Views
5,522 Questions Answered
Let’s Begin…
The
older the word, the longer (and more fascinating) the story. With roots
in Old English, 'true' shares etymological ancestors with words
like betroth and truce...but also with the word tree. In fact, trees
have been metaphors for steadfastness and faithfulness for as long as
the word true has defined the same qualities. Gina Cooke describes the
poetic relationship between 'tree' and 'true.'
The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, "No one ever steps in the same river twice," because as the river flows, the waters change and are no longer the same. Using this proverb, explain how language can be thought of in a similar way. Does every English speaker speak the same language? Why or why not?
Sign in to answer questionAbout TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Educator Gina Cooke
- Animator Brad Purnell
- Narrator Addison Anderson
