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January 08, 2014
Words To Abandon in 2014
The English language, perhaps too easily, adapts and absorbs all kinds of new words. And just as quickly, it seems, the English language turns and leaves some of its users...
...feeling lost or left behind based on the words they use.
Some words, like 'twerking' or 'whatever' are inherently annoying, while some some words are cloying only after being over used - or used inappropriately.
'End of the day' and 'fiscal cliff' are only a few examples of over-used cliche' words or terms. Here's a New York Times article profiling even more words to drop from your vocabulary - http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/29/opinion/egan-words-for-the-dumpster.html?src=recg.
If your use of English leads you to consider issues of the modern city, here are some 'urbanist' terms to drop - http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2013/12/urbanist-buzzwords-rethink-2014/7959/. Anyone for 'placemaking'?
One has to wonder where a word like this comes from. Can 'places' really be 'made'?
What is a 'place' before someone 'makes' it?
As I've said before on this blog, use grown-up, complete words. If you avoid slang and trendy words, people will always understand you - and isn't that why we write or speak at all?
Be sure to send us any words or phrases that puzzle you, and be sure to let us know what it is about English and language learning that you find confounding, infuriating or endlessly intriguing.
Listen, read and speak. Make your new language your own.
My best to you as you make your way through this intriguing , constantly shifting linguistic landscape.
Morf
Posted by mmorf at January 8, 2014 10:42 PM
