New Words for Old Things: Why We Invent New Terms
For a time in 2022, "quiet quitting" was everywhere — the phrase, at least.
It means employees doing the minimum work they have to in order to keep their jobs, and after it was coined, the new term appeared in many thousands of articles — and even more hashtags — relating to the world of work.
But here's the thing: this was a new term but it wasn't a new phenomenon. Of course it wasn't — it has probably been happening as long as people have been working!
The term "quiet quitting" was so popular that articles were soon being written about "quiet hiring," "quiet firing," and "loud quitting" too!
This has annoyed some people — why do old things need new names?
But others say that terms like these can actually be very useful.
A term like "quiet quitting" helps us make sense of a seemingly new feeling and "fills some kind of gap in the language," John Kelly from Dictionary.com told Fortune. He said that when people hear terms like this they think: "This word names something I can relate to."
People may feel a sense of community if they identify with a term.
Author Anne Helen Peterson told Vox that they're helpful because they create "a grammar … that makes what's happening feel understandable in some way."
These neologisms — newly coined words — are "a solution to a problem," wrote author Henry Hitchings in The Guardian. They allow us to communicate in a way that is more powerful, he said.
And while some might like to dismiss the value of apps like TikTok, it is on social media that many of these terms spread — and they have to be snappy to get attention and to fit in a short hashtag.
Some think that these words show a lack of imagination; that we are not able to talk about feelings or situations without using a snappy, fashionable term.
But whether we like them or not, neologisms will continue to change how we describe our experiences.
//Vocabulary//
coin: to invent a new word or phrase
The term "big bang," referring to the universe's origin, was coined by Fred Hoyle in 1949.
phenomenon: a fact or situation that is seen to exist or happen, especially one whose cause is not well-understood
Lethologica is a neurological phenomenon of not remembering the right word for something.
relate: to identify with or feel sympathy for
I found all the characters in the book easy to relate to.
dismiss: to say or decide that someone or something is not worth considering, thinking about, etc.
The judge dismissed the case because there was not enough evidence to prove the man was guilty.
snappy: clever and giving a lot of information in a few words
We need to come up with a snappy slogan for the product.
//Discussion//
1. What are your thoughts on neologisms?
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Neologisms are not uncommon in Japan.
Young people are creating neologisms one after another.
At first, it was a word only used by friends, but soon it was used throughout Japan.
2. What do you make of the idea that newly coined words fill gaps in our language?
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I agree with that idea.
As the world continues to evolve, the words used to describe it must also change.
We can look at society anew through words.
3. Has "quiet quitting" recently gained popularity in your country?
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No, I don't think so.
Until now, it has been common sense in Japanese society for people to work for the same company for the rest of their lives.
However, young people are becoming more comfortable changing jobs and starting their own companies.
Working at the same company for the rest of your life has also become challenging.
This is because companies can no longer protect employment, and more and more companies are going bankrupt or being acquired.
4. Are there any neologisms that have recently become widely used in your country?
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It's "Yabai", although not this year.
It generally refers to a dangerous, unusual situation or something you should be careful about.
However, recently, it has become a word to express something delicious, very cool, or in perfect condition.
It has an opposite meaning to its original purpose.
Also, just by using the word, you can use it in various situations, so even if your vocabulary is limited, you can somehow express yourself.
5. How often do you encounter modern slang you don't understand?
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I sometimes don't understand what they discuss when I talk to young people or watch their songs or information programs.
However, it doesn't bother me at all when I'm watching TV news, culture, or art programs.
//Further Discussion//
6. What slang terms did you use growing up? Do you use them much today?
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It is "Kawa-ii".
Its meaning is cute, lovely, adorable.
We still use them today, and they can now be used in many more situations and objects than in the past.
In the past, we used to refer to something charming and childlike, but these days, even if it's not very cute, if it's good, we might describe it as "cute."
7. What have you learned about your language while studying English?
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In Japanese, a sentence can be completed without a subject, but a correction cannot be achieved in English without a topic first.
Also, in Japanese, a verb and a word to determine whether it is positive or negative come at the end of a sentence, so unless you listen to the end, you won't be able to tell which side the opinion is.
However, in English, the verb comes after the subject, so you can understand what someone wants to say without listening to the end of the sentence.
In other words, in Japanese, you can think about and decide on your conclusion while speaking, but in English, you must determine what you want to convey before speaking.
When conveying long sentences in Japanese, the speaker and the listener can think about the topic simultaneously, and the speaker can decide whether to approve or deny the subject by the last word. That's a good thing.
This means that the listener and the speaker can conclude together.
This sentence structure is very convenient for Japanese people to "speak with consideration for others."
8. Has your language borrowed a lot of words from other languages?
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Many "Katakana", one of the Japanese category words, are directly expressed from Western words.
However, the pronunciation or meaning may differ slightly, so it cannot always be immediately used as an English word.
However, many IT and news terms are often used in Japanese daily.
9. Do you know of any words or phrases from your language that other languages have adopted?
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Japanese words such as "Karaoke", "Anime/Manga", "Mottainai", and "Tsunami" are translated directly into English.
In addition, many Japanese company names such as "Sony," "Toyota," and "Honda" have been translated into English as brand names.
Place names such as "Mt. Fuji," "Kyoto," and "Tokyo" are also famous.
10. Do you think you'd enjoy studying linguistics?
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Yes, I think it's fun.
In particular, even though the Japanese language is the same, words in Tokyo and other regions often differ in intonation and the comments themselves.
Similarly, even though it is the same English, I am very interested in speaking styles with characteristics from various countries, such as American and British English and French, Italian, Chinese, and Indian accents.
They are unique and attractive, and every time I hear them, I want to know the origin and characteristics of the language behind them.
New Words for Old Things: Why We Invent New Terms
