Definition of barbarism

The word "barbarism" has its origin in the ancient Greek language. It was originally used to refer to any foreign culture or people who were deemed uncivilized and spoke an unfamiliar language. The Greek word for a barbarian was βάρβαρος (barbaros), which meant "stammerer" or "one who speaks like a bar-bar-bar", due to the Greek's perception that the non-Greek language sounded like unintelligible "bar-bar-bar" sounds. In time, the term "barbarism" began to take on a broader meaning, referring not just to foreign cultures but also to actions and attitudes that were considered primitive, crude, or uncivilized. In this sense, "barbarism" can be seen as a way for a dominant culture to define and dismiss those who are different or unfamiliar, often as a way to reinforce their own fictitious sense of superiority. This negative connotation has remained a part of the word's definition into the modern day, where "barbarism" is used to refer to acts or beliefs that are considered savage, brutal, or inhumane.