Living with two young adults, I’m constantly amazed by the language they use – and I don’t mean bad language!
I know language evolves over time – you just have to look at Shakespeare to modern day writers such as JK Rowling to see this – but has there ever been a decade of such a seismic shift in the way we use language and the creation of new words?
The evolution of smart phone technology and social media have certainly played a huge role in this change – text speech and emojis are now acceptable forms of communication. And now with the rise of AI, who knows what’s next for the way we use language?
There are 5,400 new words created every year, with more than 170,000 words used in everyday communication. But in a year dominated by AI, post-truth, deepfakes, and disingenuity, “authentic” has somehow emerged as US publishing company, Merriam-Webster’s word for 2023.
According to Merriam-Webster, “authentic” has a number of meanings including “not false or imitation,” a synonym of real and actual; and also “true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.”
And when talking about personality, the dictionary publisher Oxford University Press (OUP) had “rizz” as its word of the year. But if you think you have “rizz” then you probably don’t. Why? Because it is derived from the word “charisma,” and “rizz” refers to a person’s ability to attract a romantic partner through style, charm or attractiveness.
Interestingly the two most popular words voted by the public were thanks to the power of celebrity. In terms of rizz, its popularity soared earlier this year, after Spider-Man actor Tom Holland was asked by Buzzfeed what the secret to his rizz was. His answer? “I have no rizz whatsoever. I have limited rizz.”
The other word was “Swiftie” – the name given to an avid fan of singer Taylor Swift.
Also making the final list were “prompt,” the instruction given to an artificial intelligence program that influences the content it creates and “situationship,” which means a romantic partnership that is not considered to be formal or established.
Runners up:
Beige flag
Not as bad as a ‘red flag’ this is a character trait that indicates that a partner or potential partner is boring or lacks originality; (also) a trait or habit, esp. of a partner or potential partner, viewed as extremely characteristic, but not distinctly good or bad.
De-influencing
The practice of discouraging people from buying particular products, or of encouraging people to reduce their consumption of material goods, esp. via social media.
Heat dome
A persistent high-pressure weather system over a particular geographic area, which traps a mass of hot air below it.
Parasocial
Designating a relationship characterized by the one-sided, unreciprocated sense of intimacy felt by a viewer, fan, or follower for a well-known or prominent figure (typically a media celebrity), in which the follower or fan comes to feel (falsely) that they know the celebrity as a friend.
Given that language has been around since the start of time, it will always continue to evolve and change. And, yes, of course we will have to change with it, however hard that may be. Language and our ways of communicating with each other will remain as important as they ever have been.
So, here’s to being “authentic” and a bit more “rizz” and less “beige flag” when it comes to using language in 2024!
