English Learning for Curious Minds | A More Interesting Way To Learn English #587 | The Curious Tradition of Words of the Year
Jan 1, 2026
Explore the intriguing world of Words of the Year, from the playful 'selfie' to the cynical 'post-truth.' Discover how cultural shifts and technological trends shape our language, and what terms like 'goblin mode' reveal about modern society. Dive into the selection process that blends data and public opinion in defining our linguistic markers, and look ahead to the emerging terms for 2025, including the enigmatic '6-7.' Each word is a snapshot of our time, reflecting societal concerns and evolving communication.
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Words Capture Cultural Moments
- Words of the year show how language records cultural change and new concepts.
- Lexicographers combine data and editorial judgement to pick words that reveal what mattered that year.
Data Plus Editorial Judgment
- Dictionaries analyse huge language databases including social media, podcasts and videos to find rising terms.
- They then use editorial judgement to interpret why a word mattered, not just how often it appeared.
Truthiness And Political Rhetoric
- Alastair recounts 2005's 'truthiness' coined by Stephen Colbert to mean something that feels true even if it isn't.
- He connects the term to politicians who prioritised feeling over evidence, like George W. Bush's WMD claims.