So I'm sure we're all aware that our language is constantly evolving. Each day, certain words become used less and less until they disappear from use forever. Other words are created and used constantly- specifically, technological words (just think, the word "blog" or "blogger" probably didn't exist 15 years ago). This is what I LOVE about language. I love exploring what words make the cut and what words meet their demise and why. You wouldn't believe how many words there are out there that you had never even dreamed existed (like jobler- one who does small jobs).
But enough blateration on my part. (Whattt?) Earlier this month I stumbled upon (literally... through StumbleUpon) a great website called Save the Words. Once you arrive to the site, you are bombarded with words that are becoming more or less extinct. You can click on any word and find its definition, and then learn more about how to bring these words back into use. It's all about- pardon the pun- word of mouth. If just one person reads or hears a word they are not familiar with, it encourages them to look it up and they may just begin to use that word in their own conversations.
The best part about the site is that you can sign up for a Word of the Day to be sent to your email. A great way to try new words and encourage others to become excited about language. I am definitely guilty of only using words I am comfortable with. Here's an interesting fact: 90% of what we have to say is communicated through just 7,000 words.
Just think: Without the right words to describe what we need to say, well... we'd be speechless.
Fascinating! Totes. ;) Does that count as one of those new words? Or just laziness? Really though, this post made me learn a lot!
ReplyDeleteHuh, this is really interesting! I'll have to check out that site.
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