Wordsmanship

   "When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less."
   "The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
   "The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master — that's all." 

   Words change their meaning over time, and the pace of change varies. New words come and old words go, and those who look for a pattern find only social variations.
   Five decades ago, the word "gay" had no hint of sexual orientation, and the verb "diss," to insult or disrespect someone, had not come into general usage.
   At that time, a used car could be had for less than $100, and $2 would fill up the gas tank. But times change, and so does language usage.
   In a way, Humpty Dumpty the master linguist was right. Words mean only what people -- speakers and hearers -- intend them to mean. And if the hearer or reader does not grasp the intended meaning, the speaker or writer has failed the mission.
   And that, friends, is the primary purpose of language: to communicate.
   Granted, language changes, and there are regional as well as social variations in any language -- they're called dialects.

   It is a writer's duty to aim prose at the intended audience. Academics do not use rap dialect, and rappers would be ignored if they were to use the polysyllabic, convoluted prose favored by academics.
   This is not to say that they cannot or should not use various dialects and styles. The goal, after all, is communication.
   Words mean what the general audience accepts them to mean. Otherwise, the speaker/writer is chattering gibberish.

   Therefore, heed the words of Humpty Dumpty: "The question is, which is to be master."

   Or those of Albert Einstein: "If you can't explain it to a six-year-old, you don't understand it yourself."

   In sum, know your audience.