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Joined: May 22 2008 Location: Goshen, VA Posts: 6544

Merriam-Webster has added a bunch of new words to their collegiate dictionary this year, and it is really ridiculous. Not only are 80% of these words just silly, I guarantee no one here uses them. Let's look at a few:

Flash-mob - a group of people summoned (as by e-mail or text message) to a designated location at a specified time to perform an indicated action before dispersing.

Locavore - one who eats locally grown food.

Sock-puppet - a false online identity used for deceptive purposes.

Staycation - a vacation spent at home or nearby.

I wasn't able to find a link listing all 100 words they added, but I'm sure more extensive searching will yield better results, as I am at work and don't have the time to look around. Thoughts?

Posted: Jul 10 2009 04:49 pm

I've never heard any of these used in the capacity that they are. How odd.

Posted: Jul 10 2009 04:56 pm

Grammar and vocabulary should impose their will on American society; American society should NEVER be allowed to impose its will on grammar and vocabulary. In particular, common usage should not dictate the "realness" of a word, because the common American is just that - common. Additionally, he is also ignorant, vulgar, backward, and fickle. If we let commoners dictate what's a real word and what isn't, it's only a matter of time before the following things are in the dictionary:

ain't
y'all
lawlz
amirite
buttsecks
nigga please
upset
lulz
o hai thar

If commoners are allowed to determine the path of the language, LOLCAT will replace English as the most popular language in this country by 2050. Just because some asshole made up a word, and a bunch of assholes on the internet used that word, that doesn't make it a real fucking word. We should be punishing stupidity with whips, chains, and electroshock therapy, not vindicating it by making it an official part of our language.

You should have to take a yearly literacy test, written in English and designed by me, for the privilege of living in this country. And if you fail, you should be given the choice of either deportation or execution. If you do not understand the two choices, we'll flip a coin to decide which option you get.

Joined: May 22 2008 Location: Goshen, VA Posts: 6544

I heart your statement. Also, what form of execution would there be?

Posted: Jul 10 2009 04:59 pm

They still haven't added 'duketastrophe'...

Posted: Jul 10 2009 05:12 pm

Here, here. I agree. I see emails at work from people who use r for are and u for you, among many others. It's horribly unprofessional.

Posted: Jul 10 2009 10:18 pm

It seems that every time words are added to the dictionary, it's always these obscure slang terms that I've never heard anyone actually say out loud.

Posted: Jul 11 2009 02:47 am

You forgot they added shawarma. Good stuff.

Posted: Jul 11 2009 03:43 am

Syd Lexia wrote:

upset

this word is always funny if used correctly

I would also like to add basement dweller to the list for 500 please

Posted: Jul 11 2009 09:16 am

Also, do flash mobs even still exist? Didn't that joke die?

Joined: May 22 2008 Location: Goshen, VA Posts: 6544

Yeah it's pretty silly. Like "sock-puppet". Has anyone EVER used that term to describe an alternate identity, used to deceive?

It really feels like some of these are jokes and I refuse to accept them into my official language.

Posted: Jul 11 2009 11:44 am

And what the fuck is with the hyphens? I have NEVER seen "sock puppet" or "flash mob" hyphenated.

Joined: May 22 2008 Location: Goshen, VA Posts: 6544

I have seen it with hyphens and without, and I am assuming that the hyphens don't belong. Sorry, I guess.

Posted: Jul 11 2009 01:36 pm

Merrian-Webster will be replaced for Urbandictionary.com as the dicionary of choice for English-speaking people the way it goes.

Joined: Aug 26 2007 Posts: 2752

First off, i 100% agree with you Syd, it's burns me how simple english is turning into an abomination just because of 'trends' that started from the internet. When has anything that has bled from the internet to 'meat-world' ever resulted in anything but a face palm. Oprah with the 9000 penises, Rick rolling at the Thanksgiving parade, num-num guy making headlines, the list goes on.

Cameron wrote:

It seems that every time words are added to the dictionary, it's always these obscure slang terms that I've never heard anyone actually say out loud.

It seems more like the academy awards now or the Grammys, where as the awards don't go to the popular or obvious movies/bands but to some obscure contribute that is only recognized/remember for winning an award. Now this can either be a good thing or a bad thing, that is a matter of opinion.

There are some big heads out there that want these words to get popular to be 'hip', so they add them to the dictionary. Or maybe Paris Hilton is sleeping with the CEO at Merrian-Webster and his favor to her is to add words her friends text in.

Banned Joined: Sep 13 2008 Posts: 3129

if these words get put in i demand "funner" be made a word

Posted: Jul 12 2009 02:09 pm

I'll admit: "flash-mob" sounded pretty cool until I read the meaning.

But the others... what the fuck?

Posted: Jul 12 2009 11:21 pm

Although this word has been around forever, I still hate when writers use 'vicissitudes'

Posted: Jul 13 2009 12:35 am

It's that damn internet! That's what it is! I say we shut that thing down!

Posted: Jul 13 2009 01:06 am

username wrote:

Although this word has been around forever, I still hate when writers use 'vicissitudes'

The hell!? I've never seen that word pluralized.

Posted: Jul 16 2009 12:00 am

I've seen staycation used in serious publications such as large newspapers, but usually in quotation marks to indicate a slang term.

The others you've got me.