While we supreme human beings think we define the nuances of words with absolute precision, actually, language defines us. And the Words of the Year for 2022, as determined by terms most researched through dictionaries during the year, tell us that we reside in a sad, sad state of mind these days.
Words of the Year
Merriam-Webster, the American dictionary, named the 20th century word, “gaslighting,” as its Word of the Year for 2022. In a 1938 drama,“Gaslighting,” the villain tries to convince his wife she is insane by dimming the lights, but claiming they are bright. When the word was added to the dictionary, it was defined as “psychological manipulation of a person usually over an extended period of time that causes the victim to question the validity of their own thoughts, perception of reality, or memories and typically leads to confusion, loss of confidence and self-esteem, uncertainty of one's emotional or mental stability, and a dependency on the perpetrator.”
However, the definition has changed with the times. Today, the dictionary also defines it: “the act or practice of grossly misleading someone, especially for a personal advantage…The word is at home with other terms relating to modern forms of deception and manipulation, such as fake news, deepfake, and artificial intelligence.”
The British English Dictionaries, Oxford and Collins, also chose misanthropic terms. Oxford named as its Word of the Year, “Goblin Mode” meaning “unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly or greedy.” And Collins, published in Scotland, selected “permacrisis - a word describing an extended period of instability and insecurity.” This last choice pretty well sums up the other two while all three paint a pretty dismal picture of 2022.
Banned Words
For almost a half century, Lake Superior State University has selected ten words, submitted by people from across the globe, that should be banished from the English language each new year. On New Year’s Eve, this University publishes its annual list of words and phrases that should cause all of us pause before ever uttering any of them again. A few of this year’s list are perpetual pet peeves of English teachers.
Interestingly, the word leading this list, “Gaslighting,” is Merriam-Webster’s word of the year. Banished words contributors found the present day definition cumbersome and the original reference long forgotten.
Also vying for the top spot is “GOAT” as an acronym for “Greatest of All Times,” too often, according to nominators, bestowed on anyone for any reason like a performance trophy.
On the list for a second time is the very fatalistic phrase, “It is what it is.” Its gloomy outlook was also banned in 2008. Let me recommend Justin McRoberts’ take on this phrase. His book, It Is What You Make of It, invites us take charge of how we respond to events, even those we can’t control.
Adverbs have long been the bane of language students; journalists are advised to avoid them. “Absolutely” has been banned before, in 1996, for overuse. We still overuse it. Likewise, the adjective, “Amazing,” and its adverbial form, “Amazingly,” were also banished in 2012. Few of life’s treasures merit such praise. The redundant, non-word, “irregardless,” irritated a number of contributors. The correct adverb is “regardless.”
Four phrases, “Moving Forward,” “Quiet Quitting,” “Inflection Point” and “Does that Make Sense?” offended numerous nominators. As to the first, one sage quipped, “Where else would we go since we can’t travel back in time.”
Both co-workers and employers deplore those employees who complete the bare minimum requirements for a position and nothing more. These “quiet quitters” are often the folks who complain the loudest because they’re overlooked for promotion.
One quipster, in reference to “inflection point,” claims it to be a “pretentious way to say turning point.” And the question, “Does that make sense?”, embodies passive aggression to contributors. Conversation always lags when participants belittle one another.
While the words of the year painted a dismal picture of society, we, the speakers and listeners of language, continually slip into usage of trite, overused, misused and useless phrases because it’s so easy to do. Our own laziness in word choice too often leaves us wondering why we are misunderstood. Communication is supposed to clarify, not cloud, the issues.
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