Real Words or Bo**ix?

[clarinetbcn]

In January alone some 550 words and phrases were added to the English Oxford Dictionary and over 2500 the year before. I would have thought that the English language has evolved such that it is more than adequate to cover any requirement. Apart from the technical and medical areas very few new words are needed judging by the examples I have seen. Maybe these new 'words' could instead be added to a new separate dictionary so as not to pollute the common dictionary. Maybe this is progress

A very large portion of the English language is generation-specific, i.e. you identify your age by the vocabulary you use. Younger generations wouldn't be caught dead using the vocabulary of their parents and grandparents, and in their eyes the "polluting" is done by old people. I have taught university students for many years, and I and my colleagues usually receive a yearly memo about what vocabulary and references mean nothing to the younger generation (just imagine telling an overly talkative and repetitive young person that they sound like a scratched record). The beauty of language is that it is alive and evolves in creative and wonderful ways, regardless of those who try to nail it down.

 

[Elly Swanson]

I love the way language evolves and changes, it’s wicked. In fact so wicked it’s sick. It’s pants when language stagnates.

 

[Elly Swanson]

Being an old grumpy pedant, I can’t help but get animated when I hear “new” words that sound like they’ve generated by a computer.
For example, today (from over the pond)... ”intergaging”. From the context in which it was used I think it’s merging of interacting and engaging.
The list goes on!

Sounds like you may have caligrumpitis, AA.

 

[Karlos]

Sounds like you may have caligrumpitis, AA.

I'm sure there's an ointment for it.

 

[Troglodyte]

Sometimes words can just be fun to play with. For example I often use the word “dramastically”, a mix of dramatically and drastically to good effect.

 

[RonB]

When I worked in telecoms my boss wrote an email without keeping an eye on her spell check and "analogue" got changed to "anal log".

A long time ago in the era of early computers, pre-email, and letters were still being dictated, my secretary did an automatic spell check and my name was duly signed and sent as ‘On Burnout’. It was only inaccurate by 3 letters but running a deadline working design team, it did accurately describe my state of being at the time!

 

[zinglefiffy]

I would generally agree with @clarinetbcn and @Elly Swanson but the one that really gets my goat is the phrase 'reached out to', a full 7 letters and two words more than the equivalent and long-standing version, 'asked'

 

[ArunAlec]

I literally blow a fuse when I hear something thats nice or even very nice being described as "awesome", a word that should be saved for the second coming or maybe the Grand Canyon but definitely not when describing a beef burger or a set of alloy wheels.
And, don't get me started on random! Someone I worked with used to come into the office and say she had a "random question". When she got my totally unrelated and truly random answer she looked puzzled.

 

[ArunAlec]

I would generally agree with @clarinetbcn and @Elly Swanson but the one that really gets my goat is the phrase 'reached out to', a full 7 letters and two words more than the equivalent and long-standing version, 'asked'

Seem to recall my first hearing of "reached out to" being in the Hill Street Blues.

 

[Jay gas]

I literally blow a fuse when I hear something thats nice or even very nice being described as "awesome", a word that should be saved for the second coming or maybe the Grand Canyon but definitely not when describing a beef burger or a set of alloy wheels.
And, don't get me started on random! Someone I worked with used to come into the office and say she had a "random question". When she got my totally unrelated and truly random answer she looked puzzled.

What’s awesome is the new jackyards seat covers I just got. That’s just a random statement lol

 

[GrannyJen]

It's not just the Americans.

The kiwi's invented the phrase, as in Olympics, "likely to podium" or "looking to podium". To me it sounds like a very bad attack of runner trots but apparently it means collecting bling around your neck.

 

[clarinetbcn]

I literally blow a fuse when I hear something thats nice or even very nice being described as "awesome", a word that should be saved for the second coming or maybe the Grand Canyon but definitely not when describing a beef burger or a set of alloy wheels.
And, don't get me started on random! Someone I worked with used to come into the office and say she had a "random question". When she got my totally unrelated and truly random answer she looked puzzled.

Literally?

 

[ArunAlec]

Literally?

Exactly! I was being ironic

 

[westfalia]

Exactly! I was being ironic

Lol.

 

[Elly Swanson]

I'm sure there's an ointment for it.

Brandrup probably do some, won’t be cheap though.

 

[Amarillo]

I wonder if our Victorian forebears were equally wound up by the Indianization of English: words such as pyjamas usurping nightdress, veranda instead of covered terrace and bungalow instead of single storey abode?

 

[Joker 1299]

I wonder if our Victorian forebears were equally wound up by the Indianization of English: words such as pyjamas usurping nightdress, veranda instead of covered terrace and bungalow instead of single storey abode?

Single story abode - just bung a low roof on it!

 

[MattBW]

All words were new at some point... but admit I don't get some of them either.

 

[MattBW]

Here in this part of the midlands, “mom” is the normal spelling. Not sure if it has changed or been that way for a long time.

CaliVentures

Adventures in a VW California camper van

caliventures364847572.wordpress.com

Where in the midlands is that? Considered american spelling here.

 

[Borris]

You tube kids is the one I hate for language my 5 year old has decided that I take the trash out for the garbage truck where he dumps his candy wrappers. I have to count to 10 to let my boiling blood cool down

I agree with you. Plus the annoying habit, first heard in "Neighbours", of an inflection at the end of a sentence, making it sound like a question. Grr! (I'm Mrs Borris)