Levi strauss

Levi Strauss developed a theory of "bricolage", by which he describes the process of traditional objects or language being given a new meaning for different purpose. An example of this is the traditional cross - it has become a common fashion item to display hanging from a necklace even if the wearer is not in the slightest way religious, and therefore has become a kind of fashion icon. An example of where this takes place in language is when people use a word to describe something that it's traditional meaning isn't - e.g. the word "bare" originally meant to be exposed, bare to your surroundings, or to bare something, to own or carry something. It is now used however, to describe something as being good or a lot e.g. "lets go to the canteen, there is bare chicken burgers there".