HOW WAS THE WORD "NEWS" DERIVED?
The word news comes from the late Middle English period (14th–15th century) and is derived from the plural form of new, meaning "new things" or "new occurrences." It was influenced by the Old French word nouvelles, which also means "new things" or "tidings."
There is a common but incorrect myth that news is an acronym for "North, East, West, South," suggesting it represents information from all directions. However, this is not true; the word simply evolved from the idea of reporting new events.
The word news has an interesting linguistic evolution:
1. Early Usage: The concept of reporting new events dates back to ancient civilizations. The Romans had the Acta Diurna, a daily gazette, and in China, the government circulated official reports called dibao as early as the Tang Dynasty. The word news itself first appeared in English in the 14th century, referring to "new things" or "fresh information."
2. Language Influence: It comes from the Middle English newes, which was the plural of new. The Old French nouvelles (meaning "new things" or "tidings") also played a role in shaping its meaning. Similar words exist in other languages: Spanish (noticias), German (Nachrichten), and Italian (notizie), all referring to updates or reports.
3. Misconception About NEWS as an Acronym: Some people believe news stands for "North, East, West, South," implying worldwide coverage. This is a false etymology; news simply refers to fresh or recent events.
4. Printed and Broadcast News: The first English-language newspaper appeared in the early 17th century. Over time, the meaning of news expanded to refer specifically to information disseminated via print, radio, television, and later, digital media.
So, the word news originally just meant "new things" but evolved into the concept of organized reporting over time.
