History of Swag

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History of Swag “Time changes all things; there is no reason why language should escape this universal law (Ferdinand De Saussure)”. Words evolve and change with each generation of people. With each generation, they find a new way to use a word, thus, adding a new meaning to a word. The word Swag is commonly used in today’s world among teens and young adults. However, the term has a history that is older than many think. Moreover, the first meaning is different from the way it is used today. The meaning of swag has been growing and changing for many decades and will continue to do so as long as people keep expressing themselves. The word swag was first seen in 1303 in the writing of Robert Mannyng “Handlyng Synne” in his translation of William of Wadington’s “Manuel des Pechiez” (Mannyng of Brunne, Robert). Mannyng was from a small town of Bourne in the northeastern part of England. Mannyng like most transcribers was a monk and wrote many pieces about devotional or penitential. At the time of this writing, the word swag held the meaning of a bulgy bag (swag). Which could have been a bag used by a tramp to carry their belongings. Even though the word was in English text, it could have been from Norwegian or Scandinavian origins (swag). However, the Norwegian or Scandinavian meaning was not bulgy bag but a big blustering fellow. Thus, meaning a man of low character and one that could not be trusted. The word would hold its’ Norwegian, Scandinavian and English meaning for quite some time, it would not be until the 1600’s that the word would take on another meaning. When it is seen in the writing of Nathaniel Ingelo poem “Bentivolio and Urania” (swag). Ingelo writes “In goes he to the Boat And the suddenness of the swag, overturn'd the vessel upon the passengers”. Thus adding the meaning of swaying or lurching to the word. Like Mannyng, Ingelo wrote religious

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