Did you know the English Dictionary is getting a makeover with sassy new words like “digital nomad,” “hellscape,” and “trauma dumping”? Yes, our vocabulary is evolving. And guess who’s responsible? Young women.
History has often shone the spotlight on male literary giants like Shakespeare, who gifted us with new words “swagger,”. And Dr. Seuss, the inventor of “nerd,”. But now it’s all change.
Sociolinguist William Labov told National Geographic’s Rachel Fobar in her article New words are spreading faster than ever—thanks to teenage girls: “Women lead up to 90% of linguistic changes”.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let’s take a closer look at what they’re saying – and why the world’s listening.
Why Women Lead the Lexicon Revolution
Words and phrases from the charm-filled “rizz” to the introspective “goblin mode,” have come to prominence online. These terms are going beyond words to become cultural markers, many of which are started by women.
This trend has many and varied roots, including:
- The broad social networks women cultivate and influence
- Their role as caregivers
- Their knack for being linguistic trendsetters
Even female characters from popular shows like Friends have been linguistic pioneers, thanks to Rachel, Monica, and Phoebe using intensifiers like “so” and “really” more than their male counterparts. It’s a clear reflection of how women, through their roles and interactions, shape the way we speak and connect.
So, let’s hear it for the girls! After all, young women might be shaping the future of fashion and social media. But they’re also crafting the words that define our experiences. May their creativity and influence continue to inspire our dictionaries and our conversations!
At la Academia, we’re in agreement with University of Toronto linguist Sali Tagliamonte when she said “language has its own path, its own system, and it changes whether we like it or not”. Get in touch to start a thoroughly modern language learning journey that focuses on what’s happening right now, in addition to harnessing the lessons of the past.