New Words
New words are being added to the English language at any different time. New words can be entered for many different reasons. However, it is generally due to the changes in technology and the changes to everyday society. For example, when the technology levels increased do that the computer was developed, the word computer was then invented and added to the English language to fit this change. Throughout this essay I am going to be looking at 8 new words that have been introduced into the English language within the last 50 years.
STONED. Entered into the dictionary in 1952. This means to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It was first heard in the 1940's where it was used among US jazz musicians. Then it was used to express that someone was under the influence of drink, drugs or euphoria. As is became more commonly used it was used to express that someone was simply under the influence of drink or drugs. As time progressed, the 1960's mainly used it for those under the influence of cannabis. 'Stoned' comes under the form class of an adjective as it is describing the way that a person would be after alcohol or drugs. It is however slang term.
"He is stoned". This is one of most common way that the word is used. In this case it means that the male in question has either been drinking alcohol or taking drugs (although in this day and age it would most l9kely mean that he is under the influence of drugs, rather than alcohol.)
MINISKIRT. Entered into the dictionary in 1965. A miniskirt is a very short skirt that originally came into fashion in the 1960's. It only qualifies as a miniskirt if it is over four inches above the knee. The miniskirt is one of the most memorable symbols from the 1960's and is commonly associated with its designer, Mary Quant, who marketed the design in 1965. 'Miniskirt' comes under the form class of a noun, as it is an object.
"I shall wear my pink miniskirt to the disco." This is one of the ways that the word miniskirt can be used in everyday speech. However, the miniskirt, in modern days, isn't an item of clothing that is worn everyday so it tends to only be used when talking about a special occasioning, i.e. a disco.
YUPPIE. Entered into the dictionary in 1984. This word is formed from an acronym from young, upwardly, mobile (or urban) professional. Yuppie was created in the 1980's in both the UK and US as Thatcherism and Reagonism created a whole new ...
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"I shall wear my pink miniskirt to the disco." This is one of the ways that the word miniskirt can be used in everyday speech. However, the miniskirt, in modern days, isn't an item of clothing that is worn everyday so it tends to only be used when talking about a special occasioning, i.e. a disco.
YUPPIE. Entered into the dictionary in 1984. This word is formed from an acronym from young, upwardly, mobile (or urban) professional. Yuppie was created in the 1980's in both the UK and US as Thatcherism and Reagonism created a whole new class of young, professionals in cities. It comes under the form class as a noun as it is a type of person. However, it did become an adjective and a number of related words were thought of. For example; yuppiedom and yuppification.
"Tom is a yuppie." This is used in the sense that you are describing the male in question, Tom, as a yuppie. However, you find that as it is becoming more and more normal for young people to become professionals that the word is less commonly used.
MEXICAN WAVE. Entered into the dictionary in 1986. It is used to describe the rippling effect that is produced when the spectators in successive sections stand while raising their arms and then they sit down. This activity was first demonstrated towards the public during the 1986 world cup in Mexico. This is why it is known as the 'Mexican' wave. This sort of activity is usually practised when the game has become boring or their team is winning comfortably. It enters the language as a noun as an activity that is participated in.
"As Owen scores a hatrick the crowd are going wild and are doing a Mexican wave." This is a way in which maybe a commentator on a sport, in this example football, would describe to the viewers what the atmosphere is like at the stadium. If there is a Mexican wave then it means that the fans generally ecstatic and show this through a Mexican wave.
ACID HOUSE. Entered into the dictionary in 1988. This is a type of funk-based, electronically edited disco music from the late 1980's. It had hypnotic sound effects and was commonly associated to hippie culture and the use of the drug ecstasy. This type of music spawned acid house parties, which were secretly organised. These were usually held at illegal venues. It then started a trend of graffiti saying 'ACEED'.
"I prefer acid house to punk-rock." This would be used when the person would be voicing an opinion on the style of music that they prefer. However, nowadays, acid house is not such a popular style of music therefore it isn't used that often in everyday speech.
CROP CIRCLE. Entered the dictionary in 1990. This is a pattern that is usually either partly or wholly consisting of a ring shape. An unexplained flattening of cereals in a field forms it. This particular phenomenon has been the topic of speculation for the last decade. There have been many explanations formed, like spaceships, mini-tornadoes etc. However there has not yet been a reliable explanation. It is classified as a noun because it is an object.
"Crop Circle Appears in Local Devon Farm." This is an example of a headline that may use the term crop circle. As it is a national phenomenon it is the sort of thing that tends to appear in the paper a lot.
ROAD RAGE. Entered into the dictionary in 1995. This is the aggressive behaviour that is sown by a motorist in response to the actions of another road user. Road rage, from 1995, was then established with a number of high profile incidents. From road rage there's also many new 'rages' that have spawned from it. Air rage: drunken holidaymakers attacking cabin crew. E-Rage: Angry response to an abusive e-mail.
"Road Rage Incident Leaves 1 in Intensive Care." This example is again one that may be found as a newspaper headline. It is used to show how the, what could be described as condition, has left someone seriously injured.
ALCOPOP. Entered into the dictionary in 1996. This is a new style of alcoholic drinks that taste like a soft drink. The word is made up from two other words; alcohol and pop. They were introduced as new, fun drinks, but are now accused of being appealing to under-age drinkers. It was in November 1996, when the chancellor, Kenneth Clarke, called them the alcopops into his budget.
"Have you tried the new Archers alcopop?" This example shows how there are more and more new alcopops being introduced into the market all the time and they are constantly a topic for conversation.
From this I can conclude that it is just as much changes in society as it is in technology, if not more, that bring new words into the English language. This is shown by the examples I have used those such as 'alcopop'. These show how society has changed and so new things are released to combine with the changes and so the new words need to be invented. However, it is not just new words being added that's affecting the English language. It is also words that, again due to the changes in society, already existed but have had a new meaning. These are words such as gay. Years ago if someone was gay then it meant that were happy and cheerful. Nowadays, however, it is more commonly used to describe a homosexual, and so the meaning of the word 'gay' has changed dramatically. Also, famous people and idols have influences on how words are used. Ali G is good example of this as he describes a homosexual as 'batty', which before used to mean 'mad'. However, as Ali G changed the meaning there are many of fans that have also adapted this meaning.
Abbi Ives 6 MPG
English language AWB (Colfox)
