“Wayne State University’s Annual List of Long-Lost Words Promises to Completely Transform Modern Language. (Not Really, but it’s Cute to Try.)”
Every year, Wayne State University releases a list of words that apparently have gone “out of style” and are in desperate need of a “comeback.” And every year, we’re reminded of just how little impact this list actually has on our daily lives.
This year’s list is no exception. It includes words like “blatherskite,” which means “a person who talks at great length without making much sense,” and “rawgabbits,” which means “nonsense.” Because, clearly, we don’t have enough words in the English language to describe people who spout off at the mouth or ideas that make no sense.
The list also includes “dollop,” which means a small amount or portion. Wow, what an exciting and groundbreaking addition to our vocabulary. Now we can distinguish between a “dab” of butter and a “dollop” of whipped cream.
And let’s not forget “petrichor,” which apparently means “the smell of rain on dry earth.” Because the previous way of describing that must have been too complicated and required too many words.
It’s hard to imagine anyone actually using these words in conversation, except perhaps in a desperate attempt to sound sophisticated, or more likely, to show off that they know obscure words that no one else does.
But the real question is, who exactly is making these lists? And who is deciding which words are in need of a “comeback”? Surely, there are more pressing issues in the world of language than a list of outdated words that no one uses anymore.
Perhaps the Wayne State University linguists could focus on creating new words that actually address modern societal issues, like “doomscrolling” or “maskne,” instead of trying to revive words from the 1800s.
It’s not surprising that this list is coming from a university. After all, universities love to create useless lists and studies that don’t actually contribute anything meaningful to society. But hey, at least it’s a fun distraction from the actual problems we’re facing in the world.
So, if you find yourself using words like “blatherskite” or “rawgabbits” in your next conversation, just know that you’re not impressing anyone. In fact, you might be doing the opposite. Stick to the words that are actually useful and relevant to today’s world. And if you really want to show off your intelligence, use your knowledge to make a positive impact on society, rather than trying to sound like you’re from the 1800s.
