Noughty language

Now that 2009 is well and truly behind us and the so-called Noughties are nought (pun intended) but a distant memory, what could be more heart-warmingly nostalgic than to have a look back at some of the most popular linguistic innovations of the past decade? That's precisely what this Guardian blog does.

Crotchdogs, mousemobs and piersonalities

If you got a chance to have a look at Monday's Guardian while drying off and getting warm in between bouts of snowball fighting, sledging and snowman building (or snow whatever building - Nathan knows what I mean), then you will have come across Charlie Brooker's column, in which he lists a number of entries from his New Media Dictionary. These are all spoof word formations, but they're worth looking at because (a) they demonstrate a number of the word formation processes that those of you on the A2 course need to know by heart for Language Change, and (b) some of them are very funny. Take, for example:

chudge (chudj) n. An underqualified judge on an underwhelming TV talent contest.

craptitude test (krap-ti-chewed tessed) n. A televised talent contest with a panel of chudges (qv).

zerotoleriddance (zero-toller-riddantz) n. The moment the public mood finally and irrevocably turns against a hitherto-just-about-tolerable minor celebrity; eg, "We put Danielle Lloyd on the cover and sales nosedived; looks like she's hit zerotoleriddance."

We've looked at this sort of thing many times before, so if you've got five minutes and you want to have a go at coming up with your own spoof neologisms I'd love to see them. Post them as a comment below (together with your analysis of the word formation process) and I might even find it in my heart to give a prize for the best one (and the most accurate analysis). Here's my effort:

bincentive (bin-sent-iv) n. A motivational 'prize' offered by one such as an English Language teacher, which, while purporting to be of high value (e.g. a Mars Bar, a Cafe Nero voucher) is, in fact, worth nothing (e.g. said teacher's 'applause' and 'respect'). Blend of 'bin' and 'incentive'.

Your turn...

Ch-Ch-Changes

No, this is not a post about the linguistic qualities of David Bowie's lyrics (although that would in itself be an interesting analysis - I offer you "It's on America's tortured brow; Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow" - Life on Mars?. Weird.). But no: instead this is a link to a series of articles that have appeared over the last couple of years focusing on language change and people's attitudes towards such ch-ch-changes. I'm putting this up now because those of you in my A2 class are about to write your first essay on contemporary language change, and these links will be immensely helpful.

First off, there are some excellent articles on general views about language change here, here , here and here. Then there are some items which look more specifically at attitudes to new words and/or phrases here, here and here.

The next two links focus on attitudes towards the use of jargon - here and here. Then there's a whole heap of articles about people's attitudes towards changes caused by the electronic media (texting, email etc.) - here, here, here, here and here. Then there are some stand-alone items on attitudes to language reclamation, people's views on the use of the title Ms, some observations about Political Correctness, and finally some words from broadcaster John Humphrys, who is well known for his views on language use and langauge change.

All very interesting... or, as Mr Bowie would have put it, "strange fascination, fascinating me".