Purists of the English
language became outraged recently when Merriam-Webster added the word
‘irregardless’ in their dictionary. The word certainly makes no sense, as it is
used in the same sense as its parent word, ‘regardless.’
Yet, the word survives in
ordinary usage. In fact, according to editors at the Dictionary, it has been
“in constant and widespread use since 1795.”
Living languages change
and additions to the lexicon occur all the time. The growth of technology is a
source of new words, but most can be attributed to changes in culture and
usage. This is especially true of colonial languages that have spread around
the globe, such as English, which has become the home of thousands of new words
from its erstwhile colonies.
Additions to a language
or change of usage of words sometimes cause controversy. This occurs many times
when slang words, once considered unacceptable, become common usage.
Fortunately, slang words
often fade as quickly as they appear. Examples of these include “Cat’s pajamas”
and “wallflower.” Indeed, as many old words disappear from common usage as new
ones appear.
Here, then, are a few new
words added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2019. How many of these do you
think will endure the test of time?
Anchor baby: a
child born to an immigrant mother living illegally in the United States, and
thus qualifying for legal citizenship under U.S. law.
Angrezi, adj. and n.:
English; British.
Apology Tour: a
series of speeches, interviews, or other public appearances by a well-known
figure (esp. a politician or celebrity), in which he or she apologizes for
previous deeds or statements.
Chillax, v.: intransitive.
To calm down and relax; to take it easy, to chill. Often in imperative:
‘relax’, ‘calm down’.
Cognitive Dissonance: a
state of mental discomfort that occurs when a person holds beliefs, opinions,
etc., which are inconsistent, or which conflict with an aspect of his behavior.
Fake News: news that conveys
or incorporates false, fabricated, or deliberately misleading information, or
that is characterized as or accused of doing so.
MLE: Multicultural London
English. A variety of English spoken mainly by young people in the
multicultural neighborhoods of inner-city London; abbreviated MLE.
Padawan, n.: In the
fictional universe of the Star Wars films: an apprentice Jedi.
Also (often humorously) in extended and allusive use.
Satoshi, n.: The smallest
monetary unit in the Bitcoin digital payment system, equal to one hundred
millionth of a bitcoin.
Shits and Giggles:
Chiefly North American and Australian. Shits and giggles (also grins): fun or
amusement without any serious purpose.
Simpsoned: The act of making questionable
decisions causing involvement by local law enforcement.
Wedge Salad: a
salad consisting of a wedge of iceberg lettuce served with various toppings,
typically blue cheese dressing and bacon.
Whatev, int. and pron.:
Used (typically in response to a question or statement) to indicate that the
speaker is disinclined to engage with, or is indifferent to, the matter.
Mohan Ashtakala is the author of "The Yoga Zapper," a Fantasy and "Karma Nation," a Literary Romance. (www.mohanashtakala.com.) He is published by Books We Love. (www.bookswelove.com.)
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