25 Facts About The Word Of The Year

What is the Word of the Year?

Every year, dictionaries and linguistic organizations select a "Word of the Year" to reflect the cultural and social trends of the past 12 months. This word often captures the essence of the times, highlighting significant events, movements, or changes in society. Here are some fascinating facts about the Word of the Year.

1. The concept of the Word of the Year began in 1971 when the American Dialect Society chose "recession" as their first word.

2. Oxford Dictionaries started their Word of the Year tradition in 2004, with "chav" being the inaugural word.

3. In 2015, Oxford Dictionaries chose an emoji, 😂 (Face with Tears of Joy), as the Word of the Year, marking the first time a pictograph was selected.

4. Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year for 2020 was "pandemic," reflecting the global impact of COVID-19.

5. The American Dialect Society's Word of the Year for 2017 was "fake news," highlighting the rise of misinformation.

6. In 2013, Oxford Dictionaries selected "selfie" as the Word of the Year, emphasizing the growing trend of self-portraits on social media.

7. The German Language Society has been choosing a Word of the Year since 1977. Their 2015 word was "Flüchtlinge," meaning "refugees."

8. Collins Dictionary's Word of the Year for 2018 was "single-use," referring to disposable items that contribute to environmental pollution.

9. In 2016, Dictionary.com chose "xenophobia" as their Word of the Year, reflecting the global rise in anti-immigrant sentiment.

10. The Japanese Kanji of the Year, chosen by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, was "災" (sai), meaning "disaster," in 2018.

How Words are Chosen

The selection process for the Word of the Year involves careful consideration and analysis. Linguists, lexicographers, and language experts review data, trends, and cultural shifts to determine the most impactful word. Here are some insights into how these words are chosen.

11. Oxford Dictionaries uses a language research program called Oxford English Corpus to track word usage and frequency.

12. Merriam-Webster relies on search data from their website to identify words that saw significant spikes in lookups.

13. The American Dialect Society holds an annual meeting where members vote on the Word of the Year.

14. Collins Dictionary uses a database called the Collins Corpus, which contains 4.5 billion words, to monitor language trends.

15. Dictionary.com analyzes search trends, news events, and cultural shifts to select their Word of the Year.

16. The German Language Society considers public suggestions and expert opinions to choose their Word of the Year.

17. The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation invites the public to submit kanji characters, then selects the most representative one.

18. Some organizations, like the Australian National Dictionary Centre, focus on words that have a significant impact on their specific region or country.

19. Social media platforms play a crucial role in the selection process, as they reflect real-time language usage and trends.

20. The selection process often involves heated debates and discussions among language experts to ensure the chosen word accurately represents the year's events.

Impact of the Word of the Year

The Word of the Year can have a lasting impact on language, culture, and society. It often sparks conversations, raises awareness, and influences future language trends. Here are some examples of its impact.

21. The selection of "climate emergency" by Oxford Dictionaries in 2019 brought attention to the urgent need for climate action.

22. "Youthquake," Oxford's Word of the Year for 2017, highlighted the significant influence of young people in political and social movements.

23. The choice of "toxic" by Oxford Dictionaries in 2018 shed light on various toxic behaviors and environments, from politics to relationships.

24. "Post-truth," Oxford's Word of the Year for 2016, underscored the growing importance of emotions and personal beliefs over objective facts.

25. The selection of "vape" by Oxford Dictionaries in 2014 reflected the rise of e-cigarettes and their impact on public health discussions.

Final Thoughts on the Word of the Year

The Word of the Year isn't just a trendy term. It reflects our collective experiences, challenges, and triumphs. Each year's word captures the essence of what society has faced or celebrated. From "selfie" to "pandemic," these words tell stories of technological advances, social movements, and global events. They remind us how language evolves with us, adapting to new realities and innovations.

Understanding the Word of the Year gives us insight into the cultural and historical context of our times. It's a snapshot of our shared human experience. So next time you hear the Word of the Year, think about what it represents and how it connects us all. Language is powerful, and these words are proof of its ever-changing nature. Keep an eye out for the next one; it might just surprise you.