Looking at Word Usage for Trends
I have always been fascinated by etymology, phrases, and the history of words. That interest led me to a Google tool called the Ngram Viewer, which gives students a valuable way to explore the historical context of word usage. The site allows users to trace how often a particular word appears across Google’s vast database of scanned books. I was especially interested in examining the usage patterns of two words that remain central to modern discussion: freedom and liberty.
Google’s Ngram Viewer offers an engaging way to study how language evolves over time. By using this tool, students can better understand how words have been used in different eras, revealing shifts in meaning, cultural significance, and social impact. In exploring freedom and liberty, I was struck by how consistently important these words have remained in public conversation and debate.
Using this tool you can obviously see the importance of these words leading up to and during the American revolution. If we move to the modern era 1800 and beyond we can see the impact of these words today.
