The Latest in Word Nerd News
Early March seems like an odd time to announce a bunch of new words being added to the dictionary. But so it is and here we are.
…language
Talking Dog Language
Gary Larson drew a Far Side cartoon I’ll never forget. It’s one among many memorable ones, actually. I can’t reproduce it here because of copyright laws and the fact that I’d like to keep my house instead of giving it to Larson’s lawyer.
…Google Giggle
If you weren’t aware, Google has an online translation service. I’ve used it here and there and recently Ken read about an Easter Egg on the site. Remember Easter Eggs on DVDs? They were little hidden gems, like outtakes or special scenes, that you could only find if you knew where to look. …
Words Old and New
Language is fluid. It evolves and morphs over time, like it or not. Those of us working alongside millennials don’t want to sound like an old fart. I’m not suggesting we adopt the millennial phraseology – egad no – but we need to relate. Many of my peers think it’s up to the twenty-somethings to do all of the work but I disagree; we can meet halfway. To that end there are words and phrases better left where they belong, in the past. …
Brandt’s Randt – It’s About Words
I’ve said it before. Language evolves. It usually evolves because mistakes get accepted.  But there are two standouts right now that really bug me. And so I randt! …
Whatever!
For the fifth straight year, “whatever” has been selected as the most annoying word. Pollsters at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY, conduct this research every year. I don’t, like, know how like isn’t, like, on top but it’s second-most annoying. Â …
Verbal Crutches
Lots of people have them. Â In radio they’re particularly irritating. Â There’s a news anchor (and there have been others) who starts every story with a “well”. Â But it comes out: wool. It gets so you brace yourself for it. Â And it never fails to arrive. …
Easy Queasy
I’m one of those people who can get turned off their food depending on the turn the conversation takes. …