Words capture the pulse and impulse of the times

“20th Century Words”
By John Ayto
Oxford University Press, 1999


The sub-title of this Oxford book says it all: “The story of the new words in English over the last hundred years.” And the book delivers what it promises. This is not only an enumeration of words that have risen from the horizon at the dawning and conclusion of the 20th century. It is as much an epic of the world – from the viewpoint of the English-speaking world – giving us glimpses of cataclysmic, earthshaking and trendsetting events. In this book, every word coined or that has gained popularity, has its own story to tell.

It is not only a case of lexicographers catching up with reality, the book says, but it is a case of “genuine change in public usage.” Read an interesting account on the initial revulsion over a four-letter word, its usage by famous authors – and then its increasing recognition – if not respectability (?) – proven by its inclusion in dictionaries. In the 60s, a word is called “Standard English” if it was written. Those that remained spoken – at home or in the streets – if they were touched by neither linotype nor offset, were not “standard.”

“Words are a mirror of their times,” the book declares, which adds that the editors recognize that a word exists once it gets printed or published. The proliferation of English words is a concern of 500 million people around the world – 400 million of whom are native English-speaking individuals, while 100 million use English as their second language (that includes us, Filipinos).

The book also gives the reader interesting accounts on words that were taboo or euphemisms. “Fat,” for example was no social stigma in the 19th century; it was, on the contraty, the standard for pulchritude then. Then “fat” became a “monstrous insult” at the close of the 20th century. One euphemism is suggested for “fat”: “circumferentially challenged”!

This Oxford collection, like all other Oxford books, could be the most authoritative source of new words that saw the light in the last century. What adds to its credibility is the structure where every word is shown employed by famous authors — including the day it was born.

For example, “brassiere” came into being in 1909, when it was first used by Vogue magazine. It was abbreviated into “bra” in the 1930s. Then, later in the sixties, we heard the joke that the bra was poised to sue flat-chested Twiggy for “lack of support.”

Another interesting feature in this book is the “conversion” of words – meaning, a noun being used as a verb, citing “garage a car” as an illustration. We have our own “Sinclair it” and our local “Kodak-an taka!”

In 1912, the word “yes-man,” the “man who agrees from self-interest or fear with everything put to him,” came into being. And, we may add, the yes-man has been with us since then. Elevated to virtue, saying yes by yes-men employ this excuse: “You can’t say no to the President.” Then they authorize the transfer of billions of pesos in what was clearly a case of plunder. At least, in recent history, a man surnamed Yasay said no to a former President.

Check out the 1940s, and you will read about words like “pin-up,” first used for Dorothy Lamour by Life, describing her as the “No. 1 pin-up girl of the U.S. Army.” Many more pin-ups later, there was Marilyn Monroe and, locally, there is Joyce Jimenez.

“Fibre optics” emerged into the verbal scene in 1956 (and we thought it was much later!), written up by the Times, which said: “If one beam of light can be transmitted along a glass tube, why not transmit detailed images along the same path?” Robert Kennedy was right: Ask “why not?” – not “why?” That one question has become the mother of inventions many times over.

And do you know when “Pac-Man” intruded into our consciousness? It was 1981, courtesy of a proprietary name of a computer game featuring a voracious blob-shaped character. Well, at home, media have christened one industrialist “Pac-Man” for the same reason.

Finally, in 1994, a fitting parting shot for this review, where did “mwah” come from? The Independent, in 1998 used it with effect: “He is half-Czech, half-Spanish, beautifully groomed, deliciously perfumed, around 60, and a great air-kisser, mwah, mwah!” You got it: the word is a representation of an air kiss. Close to home, a sixty-something Commissioner had no use for air between his lips and a lady commissioner – and so he was jolted by a rebuke: “Ano ba ýan, Lolo!”

Now you know why you shouldn’t miss this collection. The words capture the pulse – and impulse – of the world throughout the century that just came to pass. And, then, without warning, the words inspire you to remember local words and phrases that capture the nation’s temper and tempests. (dantemv@i-next.net)