M-W's Word of the Year

Merriam Webster has released its 2020 Word of the Year, and it will probably not surprise you that it is  pandemic. What might surprise you, though, are the other words on the list, including kraken and malarkey. I recommend following Merriam Webster on social media--they are extraordinary at commenting on daily events through vocabulary!

Capital B for Black

You may have noticed that Black, in describing ethnicity, has been capitalized lately. This is a recent change in newsrooms and publishing houses, and here is an article that explains the rationale. 

Another Dictionary Blog Post

I know, I know. But I can't help it. Dictionaries are a window not only into language, but into societal norms and attitudes. See, for example, this story about Kennedy Mitchum, a young Drake University graduate who petitioned Merriam-Webster to update their definition of racism. 

Words, Words, and More (Dutch) Words

The Dutch are letting their creativity shine in the lexicography of the pandemic. CNN reports that 700 new words have been added to the Coronawoordenboek, including gems like huidhonger (skin hunger: a longing for human contact while in isolation, druppelcontact (spray-contact: the exchange of little droplets when coughing or sneezing), and toogviroloog (blather virologist: one who spreads false or unsubstantiated information about the virus). 

Etymology Fans, Unite!

Regular readers know that I am a word nerd, so it brings me great pleasure to announce that The Merriam-Webster Dictionary has added 535 new words. Usually adding new words is a process that takes a few years, but sometimes there are extraordinary circumstances where new words quickly become part of our daily discourse. Such is the case now, and so new entries include terms like social distancing, self-isolate, and WFH. You can read more about the new entries here.  Stay fly, Eagles!

                                             

Don't Be A Wallydraigle!

One of my favorite ways to start the day is to check my morning email from the people at the Oxford English Dictionary to see what they've selected as the word of the day. But this is much more than just a definition. When you click on the word, you can see where it has appeared in various writings throughout the centuries. But even that is not my favorite part. What I enjoy the most is clicking on the audio and hearing the words pronounced with both British and American accents. Sometimes, if you're really lucky, they'll throw in a Scottish pronunciation. You can sign up for your own daily OED email by clicking this link.  You wouldn't want to be a wallydraigle, would you?  That would be quite mauvais ton.