Since my daughter started school and started sharing what she learns with me, I notice that a lot of times she uses different words to talk about some of the things I learned in school. It’s wild the way language evolves, and honestly I’m a little bit worried about the fact there’s no mechanism to bring people up-to-date, aside from socially shaming them for saying the wrong thing – or “canceling” them if you want to use the contemporary word.
This idea was brought back to the forefront of my mind last week when Brad evaluated Shawn’s speech and mentioned that he was not familiar with the term “common era” in reference to the calendar year. And why would he be? We didn’t learn that when Brad and I were in school, and there’s no newsletter that goes out to everyone on a yearly basis to say, hey, remember when you used to order a “small” drink? Well, now we call it “tall” instead.
Our language is evolving at an alarming rate. For example, I’m so cheugy that I didn’t know what cheugy was until no one was saying cheugy anymore. So, was I ever really cheugy? Cheugy, by the way, apparently means out of touch or uncool. To help you – and me – be less cheugy, I’ve researched some new and updated language, and I’m here today to share those learnings with you.
CE, BCE vs. BC, AD
- BCE- before common era = BC- before Christ
- CE- common era = AD- Anno Domini (in the year of our lord)
- Changed to be more inclusive and to avoid the religious connotations around the earlier abbreviations
Venereal disease vs. STD vs. STI
- VD- became stigmatized
- STD- replaced “VD” in the 70s
- STI- broader to include infections that have not yet progressed to diseases; still can be serious
Woke
- Similar to “politically correct”
- If you’re woke, you’re on the cutting edge of social norms
- Depending on the context, this can be a badge of honor or a way to deride someone
Same/Relatable
- In certain contexts, you can say just these words instead of using them in a sentence.
- Someone says something you feel the same way about. Instead of “I feel the same way,” just say “same”
- Instead of “That’s so relatable,” just “relatable”
something-Gate
- References the Watergate conspiracy
- Attach “gate” to any word to refer to a conspiracy surrounding that thing
- antenna-gate- antenna problem with the iPhone 4 that Apple tried to deny for a while
Literally
- If you’ve spent any time around a teenager in the last decade, you know this word now means literally nothing
I almost left this last one out, but I decided we’re all adults here and using this one wrong could create major problems for you.
Netflix and chill
- My wife was using this under the assumption it meant “watch Netflix and chill out.” It does not.
- “Netflix and chill” means you are watching Netflix and having sexual intercourse.
At the rate language is evolving, this speech is obsolete by the time I’ve delivered it… and I only wrote it last night. Even if you’re not 100% current, though, at least maybe you’re slightly more current than you were before. Here’s hoping you’re never cheugy and that your word choice is always on fleek. Back to you, Mrs. Toastmaster.