Innovating English: Exploring New Words and Their Meanings

Language is an ever-evolving tool for communication, and it is fascinating to see how speakers and writers continuously invent new words to better express complex ideas and experiences. In this article, we explore several proposed additions to the English dictionary that reflect contemporary issues and challenges.

1. Defresh: Making Up Words to Overcome Communication Barriers

Defresh is a term I introduced in 1992 to denote the practice of making up words or combining existing ones to facilitate understanding when formal language falls short. For example, when co-workers find themselves in a meeting with discussions stalling and no clear progress, 'defresh' becomes a useful concept. This word means to find creative ways to overcome communication challenges.

Example: 'During the meeting, the team decided to take a break to defresh their ideas.'

2. Mortequinoflagellation: A Metaphorical Expression

Mortequinoflagellation (pronounced as 'morte-keen-o-fla-ge-la-tion') is a word I constructed to represent the redundancy that sometimes occurs in discussions, much like 'beating a dead horse' in English. This term describes the act of repeating actions that have no chance of success or achieving a beneficial outcome because the opportunity has been missed.

Example: 'The same arguments have been raised multiple times, and they are still met with inaction. It's clear that we are engaged in some mortequinoflagellation. '

3. The How-Many-Th: A Clarifying Term

The how-many-th is a hypothetical term designed to clarify ordinalities and generational nuances. It is analogous to the use of '44th' for 'the 44th person' or 'the fourth sister,' where the 'th' indicates a specific position in a sequence. This concept aims to provide clarity in contexts where numerical status is significant.

Example: 'Mr. Obama was the how-many-th president of the United States? The how-many-th of your siblings are you?'

4. Becauen't: An Informal Alternative

Becauen't (pronounced as 'because not') is a term that succinctly expresses the idea that an action was not taken due to a lack of motivation or desire. It is a play on 'because not' in a logical sense, where the word 'not' is added to the beginning of 'because,' negating the reason for an action.

Example: 'Why didn’t you clean your room? Becauen’t I didn’t feel like doing it.'

5. Heshe: A Gender-Neutral Pronoun Proposal

Heshe is a term I proposed to address the gender-neutral pronoun issue. It is intended to be used when the gender of a person is unknown and to avoid the plural form of 'they.' While 'they' can be used as a gender-neutral singular pronoun, I suggest reserving it for plural senses, similar to the historical use of 'you' as both singular and plural.

Example: 'When an applicant signs the document, heshe must use an ink pen.'

6. Andor: A Simplified Alternative to Acheand/or

Andor (pronounced as 'and or') is a simplified term that replaces the awkward phrase 'and/or.' This term conveys the idea of either possibility or both, eliminating the need for a hyphen or extra words.

Example: 'The decision will be made based on andor the new data or the existing framework.'

7. Trumpsulence: A Rhetorical Term

Trumpsulence (pronounced as 'trump-so-luhns') is a term I introduced to describe a rhetorical style characterized by a combination of rhetorical devices. This term includes accumulatio (repetition of a particular point), bdelygmia (expressing contempt), bomphiologia (excessive boastfulness), polysyndeton (repeated use of conjunctions), and tapinosis (the use of insults or debasing language). It is attributed to a disgruntled former Republican who commented on Quora.

Example: 'In his speech, the political figure displayed a troubling trait of trumpsulence, overwhelming the audience with repetitive and self-deprecating statements.'

Conclusion

These innovative words and terms reflect the evolution of language to address modern challenges and complex ideas. Whether through the creation of new words or the reification of practical concepts, the English language continues to thrive as a tool for communication and expression.

By exploring and integrating these proposed additions, we can enrich the language and enhance our ability to convey nuanced meanings and experiences.