Linguistics are descriptive, not prescriptive. There can be no “common misconception” in language, because the moment a misconception is common enough, it becomes true
Linguistic drift requires a considerable majority understanding, not just a large minority
By way of example, no matter how many men think “chartreuse” is a vaguely pink color or that “trans-man” includes Caitlyn Jenner, it’ll still be lime-green and Eliot Page.
Linguistics are descriptive, not prescriptive. There can be no “common misconception” in language, because the moment a misconception is common enough, it becomes true
Linguistic drift requires a considerable majority understanding, not just a large minority
By way of example, no matter how many men think “chartreuse” is a vaguely pink color or that “trans-man” includes Caitlyn Jenner, it’ll still be lime-green and Eliot Page.