Photograph by Caleb Roenigk
Language is a continually evolving beast, and the updates to the Oxford English dictionary each year make the headlines as people wonder just how these new words emerged into common parlance.
As ever, the digital world has been a strong source of new vocabulary this year, with “Bitcoin”, “digital detox”, “click and collect”, and “hackerspace” all becoming official additions to the English language in the latest update. The digital image landscape is also somewhat polluted by “selfies”, so whilst cameras and photographs are historically not digital, you wouldn’t see so many people waste film on photos of themselves in certain situations.
Also, of particular interest after the provocative dance routine from popstar Miley Cyrus at the Video Music Awards recently, everyone is talking about how to “twerk”.
Here’s the full list of new terms:
- Bitcoin, n.: a digital currency in which transactions can be performed without the need for a central bank.
- Click and collect, n.: a shopping facility whereby a customer can buy or order goods from a store’s website and collect them from a local branch.
- Digital detox, n.: a period of time during which a person refrains from using electronic devices such as smartphones or computers, regarded as an opportunity to reduce stress or focus on social interaction in the physical world.
- Double denim, n.: a style of dress in which a denim jacket or shirt is worn with a pair of jeans or a denim skirt, often regarded as a breach of fashion etiquette.
- Food baby, n.: a protruding stomach caused by eating a large quantity of food and supposedly resembling that of a woman in the early stages of pregnancy.
- Geek chic, n.: the dress, appearance, and culture associated with computing and technology enthusiasts, regarded as stylish or fashionable.
- Hackerspace, n.: a place in which people with an interest in computing or technology can gather to work on projects while sharing ideas, equipment, and knowledge.
- Selfie, n. (informal): a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website.
- Street food, n.: prepared or cooked food sold by vendors in a street or other public location for immediate consumption.
- Twerk, v.: dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance.
