Word of the Year 2014

Each year various bodies, mostly dictionary publishers, announce their word of the year, being the most important words or expressions in the English language over the past year. There are various criteria used in assessment and evaluation, including usefulness, popularity, extent of usage and so on. The words do not have to be new, just come to prominence in the last 12 months. Most of the dictionaries select words from words newly added to their dictionaries.

Here are the 2014 Word of the Year selections by the Oxford English Dictionary and Collins English Dictionary. . .

Oxford English Dictionary:

Word of the Year: Vape

Meaning:   The act of drawing on an electronic cigarette

Comments:

The judges cited the increasing use of the word as the reason for selection, such increased use being attributed to wider use of the e-cigarette and the debates as to possible long term harmful effects. 

By the way:

The “smoke” from an e-cigarette is not smoke, it is aerosol spray

The 2013 OED Word of the Year was “selfie”, the taking of a photograph of oneself, usually with a smartphone.

“Vape” beat a short list of other words, most of which I have not heard before and/or which did not impress me all that much . . .

bae  

Used as a term of endearment for one’s romantic partner.

budtender 

A person whose job is to serve customers in a cannabis dispensary or shop.

contactless

Relating to or involving technologies that allow a smart card, mobile phone, etc. to contact wirelessly to an electronic reader, typically in order to make a payment.

indyref

An abbreviation of ‘independence referendum’, in reference to the referendum on Scottish independence, held in Scotland on 18 September 2014, in which voters were asked to answer yes or no to the question ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’

normcore 

A trend in which ordinary, unfashionable clothing is worn as a deliberate fashion statement.

slacktivism

Informal actions performed via the Internet in support of a political or social cause but regarded as requiring little time or involvement, e.g. signing an online petition or joining a campaign group on a social media website; a blend of slacker and activism.

Collins English Dictionary

Word of the Year: 

Photobomb

Meaning: 

 To intrude into the background of a photograph without the subject’s knowledge.

Comments: 

The judges commented that:

“The first recording of the word is in 2008 as the subject of a Google search and it gained wider use in 2012 when a number of photographs exhibiting the phenomenon went viral on the web. 

This year saw an unprecedented level of high-profile photobombing, most notable were Jennifer Lawrence photobombing Taylor Swift at the Golden Globes in January, Benedict Cumberbatch photobombing U2 at the Oscars, and the Queen, who unwittingly photobombed members of the Australian hockey team at the Commonwealth Games. Her grandsons took a more direct approach with Prince William photobombing Sir Chris Hoy and Prince Harry photobombing the New Zealand rugby coach.”

The rest of the photobombs mentioned above:

The rest of the Collins’ Shortlist:

Tinder 

The dating app Tinder matches users in their local area, who swipe right to like a profile and left to reject it.

Bakeoff

A baking competition.

Normcore

See above

A trend in fashion emphasizing the practical and/or ordinary.

Devo Max

An arrangement in which a central government transfers the maximum amount of authority to a regional government while still retaining sovereignty over it.

Some Words and Pictures

(Some of these have been posted previously on Bytes)

Ad Fails

Advertising failures may be due to factors such as content, placement and juxtaposition. Here are some examples . . .

'

One of the greatest Ad Fails would have to be the founder of The Circuit Factory gym in Dubai, Phil Parkinson. 

In 2012 he used a picture of Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz in his advertising with the caption “Kiss your calories goodbye.” The rail lines shown leading into the camp carried the Jews and others to extermination. 

Parkinson later explained that he used the Auschwitz image because the classes are “like a calorie concentration camp.” When a storm of criticism hit him, he pulled the ad, fired the ad’s creator and wrote on Facebook “In light of a recent poster that has caused offense – Very sorry for this – provoking campaign. It’s been removed and deleted.” His grammar and punctuation sucked as much as his commonsense and taste. Nonetheless the exposure provided by the controversy boosted gym membership and enquiries, so much so that Parkinson commented that he was uncertain whether he would be able to keep up with demand.

Monday Miscellany: Some Odds, Ends and Personals

Happy Monday

Readers Write. . .

From Byter Nic K, in response to the quotation and comments on the “If by Whiskey” speech of Noah S “Soggy” Sweat Jnr:

Hi, Otto, 

First, I should thank you for your continued labours. It is a great service you provide. I know it takes a lot of time. I look forward to it every day. 

Secondly, I want to disagree that "If by whisky" is an example of political doublespeak. Rather, it is an example of a rare and rousing call for compromise. In his poetically crafted speech, he eloquently tells - with equal passion - both sides of an old and heated debate. In doing so, he points out the truth in both arguments and, thereby, makes a mockery of the dogma intrinsic in each. He subtly and ironically showed up everyone. More's the pity - but no wonder - he didn't get a second term. 

Nic.

Thanks, Nic.

If when you say compromise you mean unwillingness to commit to a position; the lack of moral fibre to make a stand and stay with it; the cowardly adopted position of the quisling, the profiteer, the betrayer of those who have entrusted their faith in the person who then compromises their ideals and wishes, then I am against it.

If however when you say compromise you mean an attempt to achieve a workable solution that, whilst not being 100% of what was sought is still a viable and realistic solution to a problem, the middle of the road position that avoids extremism, the sacrifice of some of what is sought to achieve a favourable overall result, then certainly I am for it.

This is my stand. I will not retreat from it. I will not compromise.

In the words of Byter Giovanni’s neck tattoo, that’s how I roll.

However, to also quote Groucho Marx, "Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others." 

Sent to me by son homas

At first when I saw this cartoon I understood it to be another version of Napoleon’s observation that "Religious wars are basically people killing each other over who has the better imaginary friend." 

I couldn’t understand, though, why the opposing army in the cartoon had the same emblem on their banners as that of the speaker so I simply assumed that the speaker was addressing his own ranks with the opposing army not shown.

Then I came across a different explanation that gave an even greater level nd deeper meaning to the cartoon.

Note the following:

Here is the Duck God featured on the banners of the army in the above cartoon:

However, is it not also a rabbit looking upwards?

Look at these:

So what does that do to the cartoon? 

Is the message of the cartoon that whether you see a duck or a rabbit depends on your perspective, much like the doctrines of religions? 

You will have to work it out yourself from here, I will simply quote another comment from an anonymous author: "And on the 8th day God created a bunch of other religions. Just to fuck with mankind."