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Photo: Murali Kumar K.

STUDENT VOCABULARY College campuses come with their own set of speakable and unspeakable words

Ever felt like turning around and slapping the next person who said “cool”? Or “chill”? Or just peppered an entire sentence with the f-word, so much so that there weren’t many other words left in the sentence?

That’s what people do annually. Not go about slapping people. But striking off or slamming down words through America’s Lake Superior State University’s annual List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Misuse, Over-Use and General Uselessness. Released annually on new year’s eve, this year’s list had, among other words and phrases “post 9/11”, “surge”, “perfect storm”, “organic”, “wordsmith” etc.

Puneet, an engineering student, says he saw the list of banned words in the newspapers. “What else will you say to describe the situation post-9/11? Just because some university bans it, how many people will know? I don’t think when I’m talking to my friends, I can remember any of this! Of course in college each of us has our own set of words, till someone comes up with something more brilliant or fundoo.”

Vijayalakshmi, a technical editor at a software firm, finds it odd that words can be banned. “I don’t think it makes any difference to me at all with one university banning a word. I don’t think people will care.” She believes she wouldn’t think twice before using them. “It would perhaps make an impact if a word is removed from a dictionary. You usually use a word that first comes to you instinctively. After a point, a phrase like ‘post 9/11’ gets to you… but banning is not the solution.”

Her colleague Nita, though, believes that language is dynamic with words and phrases being filtered out or added constantly. “I think 9/11 is overused and for us it’s actually 11/9…French fries were renamed Freedom fries – then what happened?” Many of the Old English words don’t exist anymore and such efforts only help in the evolution of a language. Ranita Hirji, dean of Commits, a media college in the city, is very clear that there is no point in banning a word.

“What kind of a ban is that? In what way will you ban it? Will you keep it out of textbooks? As far as the written word goes, there may be a check. But language used orally is because of associations and connotations. Only that which is politically incorrect can be kept out of the written word.” Both she and Vijayalakshmi argue that swear words have never been able to be banned, despite many people protesting its use. “Has anyone stopped using the f-word on grounds of impropriety?” asks Vijayalakshmi.

“Words go into overkill because of overuse. But that’s because words are contemporary and associated with recent events. As time passes, memory fades; newer words come into the language. A language is forever evolving – that’s the root of any language. To become relevant today – that’s the purpose of communication,” argues Hirji.

It is rather difficult to keep up with the English language, not just in terms of what words you shouldn’t be using, but also in terms of new ones being coined by the dozen everyday. One visit to a website like urbandictionary.com, and you’ll not just be rolling on your sides with laughter but will be amazed with the way people think. Newer technologies and newer lifestyles ensure that the dictionary of our spoken word, our personal dictionaries are never static. Here are some gems:

“Monthiversary” - Similar to anniversary, but occurring every month. For people who are overzealous about a new relationship.

“W00t” - (Spelt with two zeroes and not the letter o) is generally used to express a form of joy. The word originated in competitive online gaming as an acronym for “we own other team”.

“2k8” - Is simply the year 2008.

“Man flu” - The condition shared by all males wherein a common illness (usually a mild cold) is presented by the patient as life-threatening. This is also known as ‘Fishing for Sympathy’ or ‘Chronic Exaggeration’.

“Holidaze” - A term that defines the feelings of confusion and excitement people have or the blur one feels after/during shopping for gifts in crowded retail stores with heavy holiday traffic. “Phone grope” - Grabbing at pockets, patting yourself down to make sure you have your cell phone and don’t need to turn around and go back home for it.

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