The word "barbarise" is not commonly used in everyday conversation. However, it is important to understand its spelling and pronunciation for reading and writing purposes. With an IPA phonetic transcription of /ˈbɑːbəraɪz/, we can see that the word starts with a "b" sound, followed by an "a" sound that is stressed. The next syllable has a short "e" sound and the word ends with a "z" sound. Overall, the correct spelling of "barbarise" should be easy to remember once you understand its phonetic breakdown.
The verb "barbarise" refers to the act of making something or someone more primitive, uncivilized, or lacking in refinement. It involves transforming or reducing a civilized or sophisticated entity into something resembling a more primitive or barbaric state.
When something is barbarised, it typically loses its cultural or social advancements, often regressing to a state of unrefined behavior or rudimentary practices. This term can be applied to both tangible and intangible aspects, including societies, cultures, ideas, or even individuals. Instances of barbarisation can occur due to various factors such as societal unrest, political instability, technological regression, or cultural clashes.
In the historical context, the act of barbarising was often associated with conquerors imposing their customs, traditions, or language on those they've subjugated, thus eroding their original culture. However, nowadays, the term is more commonly used metaphorically to describe the degradation or erosion of certain aspects within a given context, such as the barbarisation of language, art, or moral values.
Overall, "barbarise" encapsulates the process of undoing or reversing the advancements, sophistication, or refinement of a society, culture, idea, or individual, resulting in a regression towards a less developed or refined state.
To make barbarous.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "barbarise" is derived from the Greek word "barbaros", which means "foreign" or "non-Greek". In ancient Greece, people who did not speak Greek were often perceived as speaking in a strange or incomprehensible manner, and their speech was represented as "barbar-bar" or "bar-bar". Over time, this onomatopoeic representation of foreign speech gave rise to the term "barbaros" to describe non-Greek speakers. The verb form "barbarize" or "barbarise" was later coined in English to mean "to make someone or something less cultured or civilized", drawing upon the negative connotations associated with the original Greek term.