The word czars at Lake Superior University have released their list of banned words for 2014. Each year, the Lords of Lexicon (not a real title-we just made it up) ask the public to vote on which words deserve to be banished from the English language forever. This year, “bae,” “swag” and “hack,” along with several others, made the list of worthless words, Detroit News reports. However, trying to banish any words from a language is totally cray cray. By the way, this word was also on the list, but they spelled it “cra cra.” More on that later. Here is why words cannot be erased.
Language-all language, is a living thing. It is also an unstoppable force of nature. While we are not able to measure language in the exact same way we can measure the expansion of the universe after the Big Bang, for example, its progression is similar to any physical event. Language grows and changes over time. This change, which includes the addition of new words and slang to our lexicon, is always going to be in motion.
This movement is the reason why we are not speaking Old English, or Middle English, or Early Modern English, for that matter. Those languages shifted and evolved into what English speakers use today. As the languages moved forward and transformed, new pronunciations were introduced. So were new words, including many slang terms. In fact, there are so many slang words in modern English, you would be shocked to know the vast number you are using regularly. Those “slang” terms may have started out as informal words, but are now part and parcel of the lexicon, embedded so deeply, it is as if they have always existed.
If you have ever tried to read Beowulf in Old English, you would find that it is impossible. It is technically English, but it must be translated into modern English in order for today’s readers to understand it. The years in between Old English and Modern English may be compared to the expansion of the universe, and all the words which were developed in between may be compared to the stars. It is no different today. Bae, swag and hack are the stars resulting from this expansion, and so are all new words, whether they arose from technological, medical or other necessity; or from slang. Think about it: did ” to’Google’ something; “laptop,” “autism spectrum,” “blog,”, or “paywall” exist 20 years ago? Of course not. Human need was the spark that brought them into existence. As society metamorphosed, so did language grow to accommodate those changes.
Those who love language realize that slang terms and informal speech are just as beautiful and valuable as the words used in formal writing and speaking. There is a time and a place for everything, and this rule holds true for language as well.
Earlier we mentioned that we spelled cray cray differently than it is spelled on the list of banned words. They chose to use the other spelling: “cra cra.” This is a perfect example of how words themselves, as part of a larger living body, are fluid. Which spelling is “correct?” No one knows, because cray cray is a brand new word we made up on our own. We birthed it like the universe births baby stars and it is just finding its way in the huge macrocosm of our lexicon. Maybe it will turn into a giant. Maybe it will collapse on itself and die. Or maybe it will stabilize and solidify over time, so that one “right” spelling will emerge and it will sparkle and shine in its adolescence. Slang arises from the natural creativity of the human brain, and catches fire among communities. Some words are shooting stars; they blaze brightly for a short time and then extinguish. That is the reason we do not go around calling each other “cat” anymore. But if it was 1950, we might.
Thus, language is beautiful: it is alive. So, Lake Superior University can ban all the words they want, and you can list as many “annoying” terms as you would like, but those actions will never stop the progression of language. Language will only cease when the universe itself stops expanding. So go ahead Bae, get cray cray or cra cra with language. You are making stars with your mouth, and that is pretty freakin’ cool.
Image credit: fee.org