The words

Whenever new realities, businesses, technologies arise, we have to name them. So, we import words from one area to another – Agile framework imported the term scrum from rugby, for example – and this dialogue from Alice in Wonderland‘s book occurred to me:

– (…) and that shows that there are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents.

– Certainly, said Alice.

– And only one for birthday presents, you know. There’s glory for you!          

 – I don’t know what you mean by “glory”, Alice said.

 Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. Of course you don’t–till I tell you. I meant “there’s a nice knock-down argument for you!”

 – But “glory” doesn’t mean “a nice knock-down argument”, Alice objected.

 – 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 different things–that’s all.

– The question is, said Humpty Dumpty, which is to be master–that’s all.