Edhat Staff
By edhat staff
Several of the world’s leading Dictionary’s released their 2018 “Words of the Year.” Some of them are quite interesting while some are a bit silly.
Cambridge Dictionary chose their word of the year as “Nomophobia.” Like most of us, you’re probably wondering, “what in the world is ‘nomophobia?'”
Breaking down the word itself might offer a few hints. “No”, “phobia” and “mo” reference “no mobile phone phobia.” Cambridge Dictionary’s official description reads, “a fear or worry at the idea of being without your mobile phone or unable to use it”.
Researchers have directed their attention in recent years to people’s self-proclaimed “smartphone separation anxiety.” Although research states it rarely has anything to do with not being able to make phone calls or send text messages, more so not having the mobile phones nearby as they are now extensions of ourselves.
Cambridge Dictionary revealed that nomophobia had been selected as “the people’s word of 2018” in a public vote.
In stark contrast, Oxford Dictionary chose their word of the year as “Toxic.”
Their data shows that along with a 45% rise in the number of times it has been looked up on their website, “over the last year the word toxic has been used in an array of contexts, both in its literal and more metaphorical senses.”
People have been using toxic to describe a vast array of things, situations, concerns, and events. The top 10 toxic searches included: Chemical, Masculinity, Substance, Gas, Environment, Relationship, Culture, Waste, Algae, and Air.
Merriam-Webster chose their word of the year as “Justice.” It was determined by their online dictionary look-up data as it showed high-volume traffic and significant year after year look-up increases.
Justice was looked up 74% more than 2017, which they attributed to significant news events throughout the United States and world. Racial justice, social justice, criminal justice, and economic justice were just a few of the prevalent phrases searched.
They left off a word, ’cause I feel like we’ve all been covered in trump, and it’s hard to wipe off. Ycch.
yacht rocked…..oh pleaseeeeee….you’re being ridiculous
Confusion of the legal versus individual interpretive meaning of JUSTICE has resulted in fear, major costs, and upsets at local educational institutions, specifically SBCC, and SBUSD. While Sacramento continues to micro-manage the word’s meaning, everyone must remain on high alert.
Doesn’t the choice of the word “nomophobia” seem a bit contrived. In fact wasn’t the word itself contrived to fit the issue this publicity seeking group was after? In fact, shouldn’t contrived be a word of the year?
Sacramento? The constant din of those who are offended by anything, especially when it is outside their claimed superior knowledge, is what is suffocating discussion in this country. We need to protect the right to say things and pooh pooh those who want to censor the language and rewrite definitions every political cycle. And I especially include my “progressive” friends in this urging.