Year in Words: Reflecting the Trends of 2023
Language offers a mirror to societal shifts, with annual "word of the year" selections underscoring the influential socio-economic and political currents. From dictionaries to magazines, these linguistic snapshots capture the zeitgeist of 2023.
Jordan Taylor
- 2024-01-05
- Updated 04:23 AM ET
(NewsNibs) - Respected dictionaries and The Economist magazine have continued the tradition of highlighting a "word of the year," pinpointing terms that encapsulate prevailing themes and conversations. In 2023, a range of words like "rizz," "coronation," "dystopian," and "indict" caught the public's attention. Online searches tell their own tale, with "implosion" and "GOAT" figuring prominently, alongside "AI," denoting the pervasive impact of artificial intelligence. Collins Dictionary broadened its array of significant words to include "Bazball" and "Deinfluencing," among others. Meanwhile, a public vote crowned "rizz" a frontrunner alongside "Swiftie," "prompt," and "situationship." Notably, "Generative" clinched The Economist's title for word of the year, reflecting a growing discourse around creative technologies.
Cultural and Economic Linguistic Tides
Language does more than simply communicate; it reflects the heartbeat of cultural and economic life. Google's most searched terms revealed public interest in geopolitical conflicts, celebrities, and sports, whereas Wikipedia users frequented the "ChatGPT" page, followed by the "Deaths in 2023" and the "2023 Cricket World Cup." These insights align with the smaller scale survey by Oksijen newspaper, where "crisis" and "polarization" were highlighted, reflecting broader societal concerns. In Turkey, popular searches from "Where was the earthquake?" to "How to perform Tarawih prayer" demonstrate diverse local interests. Linguistics are not just academic; they have real-world implications as words can shape markets and ideologiesāa fact evident in the distinct terms favored by central countries versus peripheries and the jargon native to sub-markets like Wall Street.
Language Evolution and Market Dynamics
The linguistic landscape is continually reshaped by socio-economic forces, technological progress, and political communication, leading to an evolving lexicon and the obsolescence of certain terms. This dynamism gives rise to new language markets, such as those served by renowned institutions like Oxford, as well as the burgeoning language industry. This topic is further explored by Gabrielle Hogan-Brun in "Linguanomics," which delves into the economics behind language diversity and the industry it fosters, illustrating how language is both a reflection of and an influence on economic systems.
As the language adapts and grows, it not only tells the story of the year that has passed but also sets a linguistic stage for the coming year, with predictions pointing to "immersive" as a potential standout for 2024. Whether as commodity, ideology, or simple communication, the words of the year encapsulate the complexities of our ever-changing world.
