Words and phrases recently introduced into the English language.

[nw1]

The American word Gotten seems to have got into the English Vocabulary

British people pronouncing the letter "Z" as "zee", that seemed to come in during the mid-to-late 00s and is (perhaps) a generational marker between X-ers and Millennials.

On the other hand "I'm good" sounds fine, I think I use it myself from time to time.

 

[Gloster]

Not words, but something that seems to have blossomed recently. I am distinctly unhappy with the way that times after midday are shown as, for example, 08.30 p.m. That is a confusing oxymoronic mixture: 08.30 is in morning, while p.m. is in the afternoon or evening, literally (that is what post meridiem means). There are two clear systems, although I think one (the twenty-four hour clock) is slightly better, but mixing them up can only cause confusion.

 

[Lost property]

Factoid...often uttered by the soon to be history, thankfully ! Steve Wright...."the ultimate "....when being used to describe a product or service which will continue rather than, as in the true meaning of the word, cease

 

[nlogax]

British people pronouncing the letter "Z" as "zee", that seemed to come in during the mid-to-late 00s and is (perhaps) a generational marker between X-ers and Millennials

May have missed that, although 'zee' and 'bæ-ta' are fairly universal in my industry where we work closely with the US and I'm more than fine with it. As an ex US resident 'zee' especially makes sense to me over 'zed' although I try not to use it in UK social circles.

Tbh all the teeth-gnashing and wailing about encroaching Americanisms makes me laugh. The English language will always change. Shouldn't be forgotten that British English influences have headed west in recent years and started flavouring American language once more. Definitely a two way street.

 

[AM9]

Not fit for purpose has been in common usage for more than the past 10 years

'Not fit for purpose' has in my experience been in common use since at least the Sale of Goods/Supply of Goods and Services revisions I think around 1971'ish. But there's another daft expression 'get go'. What on earth is that for, - it's not even a lazy shortcut from the word that has been in use for (probably) hundreds of years, i.e. 'start'.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

But there's another daft expression 'get go'. What on earth is that for, - it's not even a lazy shortcut from the word that has been in use for (probably) hundreds of years, i.e. 'start'.

Some sources suggest that this one-time slang phrase probably dates back to at least the 1960s, and possibly has African-American Black English origins. Moot point as to whether it should be hyphenated.

 

[prod_pep]

Interestingly, at my junior school in the 1950s the use of "got" was severely criticised. They claimed that almost every use in conjunction with another word either could be replaced by a single word with the same meaning, or was just sloppy! I will still say "We got wet, or cold" though!

I was actually taught the same thing in the naughties, i.e. "Do you have a ticket?" as opposed to, "Have you got a ticket?" In practice, it isn't a rule I always follow.

Another annoying recent development is 'cringe' in place of cringeworthy.

 

[317 forever]

Two expressions I hate are "My bad" and "It's just/so cringe" (the latter just mentioned above).

Bad is an adjective not a noun. Likewise, cringe is a verb not an adjective.

 

[AndrewE]

I was actually taught the same thing in the naughties, i.e. "Do you have a ticket?" as opposed to, "Have you got a ticket?" In practice, it isn't a rule I always follow.

Actually "Do you have a ticket?" annoys me. My instinct is to say "Yes, thanks" and get on with reading my book. If it is someone not in uniform and not wearing a prominent revenue protection ID, I could reply "Of course I do. What has it got to do with you?" My ticket (and the other cards in the wallet) is well worth stealing.

If a ticket check is anounced, and then someone in uniform enters the coach and says "Show all tickets and passes please" that is absolutely fine.

 

[XAM2175]

Actually "Do you have a ticket?" annoys me. My instinct is to say "Yes, thanks" and get on with reading my book. If it is someone not in uniform and not wearing a prominent revenue protection ID, I could reply "Of course I do. What has it got to do with you?" My ticket (and the other cards in the wallet) is well worth stealing.

Very much shades of "can I go to the toilet please?"

 

[AM9]

Two expressions I hate are "My bad" and "It's just/so cringe" (the latter just mentioned above).

Bad is an adjective not a noun. Likewise, cringe is a verb not an adjective.

Equally 'bad'? is the response to "how are you" with "I'm good", which is akin to self praise. The polite request is an enquiry of a persons well being, not an opportunity for self-aggrandisement. The appropriate response would be something like "I'm well" or "I'm fine", (assuming that you are well and or fine of course).

 

[D821]

Factoid...often uttered by the soon to be history, thankfully ! Steve Wright..

I only found out recently I've misunderstood what factoid means. I thought it was a minor point of interest, whereas it a totally means "an item of unreliable information that is reported and repeated so often that it becomes accepted as fact."
Of course, I'm sure you all knew that already.

 

[jfollows]

I saw "cosplay" twice today, once attributed to Keir Starmer and another time in a written newspaper article.
Now I didn't understand what either of them was saying.
So I looked it up.
I still don't understand what either of them is saying.
It seems to sort of mean dressing up and playing a specific character, and it's true that Liz Truss tries to dress up as Margaret Thatcher but would be more successful if she dressed up as Boris Johnson.
But why do people, especially politicians, use words like these when I imagine that the majority of people reading them (or listening to them) will be like me and won't understand them. Are they trying to be clever? Seems like the wrong thing to do.

 

[nlogax]

But why do people, especially politicians, use words like these when I imagine that the majority of people reading them (or listening to them) will be like me and won't understand them. Are they trying to be clever? Seems like the wrong thing to do.

It's for the kids innit tho?

There is a perception at least that words like these have crossed to the mainstream. If I were to ask my mum if she knew what cosplay meant I'd get a very blank look.

 

[Gloster]

I think that it was originally dressing up as your favourite cartoon, TV or book character just as children used to do, but now it is adults so it must have a clever name. It seems to be a bit more than just a fancy dress party or having a laugh: too many of those involved seem to be somewhat obsessive.

 

[westv]

May I second you on the matter. Incidentally, was this an American import?

And I will add my name to that list.

British people pronouncing the letter "Z" as "zee", that seemed to come in during the mid-to-late 00s and is (perhaps) a generational marker between X-ers and Millennials.

I blame Jay Z!

 

[Busaholic]

I saw "cosplay" twice today, once attributed to Keir Starmer and another time in a written newspaper article.
Now I didn't understand what either of them was saying.
So I looked it up.
I still don't understand what either of them is saying.
It seems to sort of mean dressing up and playing a specific character, and it's true that Liz Truss tries to dress up as Margaret Thatcher but would be more successful if she dressed up as Boris Johnson.
But why do people, especially politicians, use words like these when I imagine that the majority of people reading them (or listening to them) will be like me and won't understand them. Are they trying to be clever? Seems like the wrong thing to do.

Cosplay is associated with manga and anime and very much part of Japanese society. I wouldn't think Starmer has much grasp of the concept. 'Getting down with the youth' is not a desirable road to follow for a politician - ask William Hague.

 

[nlogax]

'Getting down with the youth' is not a desirable road to follow for a politician - ask William Hague.

To be fair to William Hague he was already 50 when he turned 15.

 

[gg1]

British people pronouncing the letter "Z" as "zee", that seemed to come in during the mid-to-late 00s and is (perhaps) a generational marker between X-ers and Millennials.

I'd say it's more a generational marker between millennials and generation Z. I've only heard this the past 5 years or so and only by teenagers.

 

[joebassman]

Lots of new pro nouns being introduced. There's a list here

pronouns

Share your personal pronouns and stay updated on your friends' pronouns. Pronouny allows you to update your pronouns and send alerts to your friends.

pronouny.xyz

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Lots of new pro nouns being introduced. There's a list here

pronouns

Share your personal pronouns and stay updated on your friends' pronouns. Pronouny allows you to update your pronouns and send alerts to your friends.

pronouny.xyz

Are there not enough pronouns already in the English language?

 

[Busaholic]

Are there not enough pronouns already in the English language?

we need antinouns, for balance.

 

[Gloster]

we need antinouns, for balance.

And amateurnouns as well.

 

[joebassman]

Lit is one kids are using now to mean exciting

lit means that something is really good, intense, fun, or exciting

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Lit is one kids are using now to mean exciting

lit means that something is really good, intense, fun, or exciting

Generational progression, perchance?

Many years ago, I assumed shades of sado-masochism when Ian Drury sang "Hit me with your rhythm stick"...

 

[jfollows]

The Guardian seems addicted to "cosplay"; I saw it twice yesterday and once today, in all cases it's either confusing language or irrelevant, for example in what was otherwise an interesting article (https://www.theguardian.com/artandd...ron-tower-britain-ugliest-building-gentrified):

As part of the refurbishment, flat 130 has been designated as one of six “heritage” apartments, preserving the original layout and colour scheme, with some period fixtures added to match the originals. A high-cistern pull-chain toilet stands next door to an enamel steel bath (in separate rooms, as they were), while the kitchen features stainless steel worktops and vintage taps sourced from eBay, so brutalism fans can cosplay at being the Goldfingers. Tucker says the flat in question is being held back for now, and will probably be sold to the highest offer through sealed bids – an ironic fate for the champagne socialists’ penthouse.

In this case "play" would have been better.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The Guardian seems addicted to "cosplay"; I saw it twice yesterday and once today, in all cases it's either confusing language or irrelevant, for example in what was otherwise an interesting article (https://www.theguardian.com/artandd...ron-tower-britain-ugliest-building-gentrified):

In this case "play" would have been better.

Every time that I see that word, I am reminded of the group called "Coldplay".

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I also remember someone on a different website once trying to convince everyone that "bustitution" referred to one of the facilities offered to women seeking cosmetic enhancements to the top half of their anatomy.

 

[D6130]

One modern expression that really makes me cringe is when younger people in shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants say 'Can I get....?' instead of 'May I have....?'

 

[SynthD]

One modern expression that really makes me cringe is when younger people in shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants say 'Can I get....?' instead of 'May I have....?'

I can answer that. May I is too posh, it’s what your generation might call non-U.

 

[gg1]

I can answer that. May I is too posh, it’s what your generation might call non-U.

Not so much posh but I think it sounds excessively formal, I use "Can I have" for that reason.

Far worse than "Can I get xxxx" however is "Give me xxxx" which I hear fairly regularly in food outlets.