The duality of the ‘League’ concept
In the central months of the year, a term that resonates strongly is ‘league’. Beyond its relevance in the sport, this term invites us to a reflection on its rich linguistic history. We invite you to explore this fascinating concept.
Union and Alliance: The roots of the league
The dictionary offers us a definition that transports us to an idea of collaboration: the league as a ‘union between various states or individuals’. Joan Coromines, a benchmark in the field of linguistics, reminds us that the word league comes from the verb tie, which involves connecting or joining.
The league in everyday life
In our daily lives, the term ‘tie’ is present in many ways. From the kitchen, where we hope that the aioli will be able to tie perfectly, to education, where we learn to write in a bound letter. In addition, human relationships are based on ties that often begin with a simple act of tying.
Competition in the sports world
However, when we think of sports leagues, the term takes a turn to the competition. Here, the Union is transformed into rivalry, as the teams fight for supremacy in each game. This paradox leads us to ask why we use a term that evokes collaboration to describe a competition.
The hidden meaning of the league
The dictionary also reminds us that a league represents ‘a sports competition in which each team competes against all the others in its category’. This means that, despite competition, teams share a common space and are grouped in the same conditions.
Reflections on the future of the league
As we look at the dynamics of sports leagues, we realize that their competitive nature has overshadowed the original idea of union that characterized them. This leads us to think about how this term will continue to evolve in the future, and how our perceptions of competition and collaboration will continue to change.
