Aiyoh, a South Indian expression which can mean many things depending on context and tone — irritation, surprise, pain, disappointment, disgust and lament — has made it to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), this year. ‘Westminster bubble’, ‘YOLO,’ ‘yogalates’ and ‘biatch’ are among a few words that have also made it to the list before. We speak to authors about the one word that they’d like to see in the English dictionary. They shed light on the idea of more and more words being included into the fold and also cite their own favourite word that they’d like to see make it to the dictionary.
We get celebrities to give their take on a current issue each week and lend their perspective to a much-discussed topic. This week we talk about how: ‘Aiyoh’ makes it to the lexicon
Ashwin Sanghi, Author: ‘Thappad’ should make it to the list
Purity of the language cannot be affected because English has always been a ‘mongrel’. Latin words, Viking terms, French phrases were part of the mix. The incredible feature of English is that it is a living language that will remain universal precisely because it adapts. I think thappad (slap in Hindi) should also make it to the list. If papad can make it, why not thappad? For me, I love the word bindaas — so very typical of Mumbai street lingo — that has been enlisted in the Oxford English Dictionary.
Meghna Pant, author: ‘Jugaad’ would be interesting
As an author I am always solicitous about language. It forms the cornerstone of all my writing. Despite being a purist, I’m also cognizant of the fact that while the addition of jargon to the ivory tower of language may appear to stigmatise it, it is also — in fact — inevitable. This is because language is not a monolithic truth. Like everything that partakes of the universe’s evolution, including our genetic structure, language cannot afford to stagnate or remain insular. The least ancillary role of language is communication, so if we change the way we communicate, as we are, we also have to change our language. When everyday conversation is peppered with words like YOLO, yogalates and moobs, why should we wince when these find their way into the dictionary?
This is not cultural impairment but cultural evolution.‘Mogamboesque’ would be a great word to add as a referral to a person with evil tendencies. As someone from Mumbai, the epicentre of business in India, I hear the word jugaad more often than I care to. It would make for an interesting addition as well.
Parul Tyagi, author: ‘I am a Twitterati, so I am happy I am recognised’
I don’t think inclusion of these words has got anything to do with making English impure. I mean a hard core linguist might have a problem but times are changing and what we referred to as ‘slang’ or ‘colloquial lingo’ is now becoming part of our everyday language. If there is a place which lists down their meaning, origin and when they were included, we are only helping the cause of English. By being adamant about what qualifies as meaningful and what is unacceptable, how are we even justifying ourselves? For instance ‘wow’ could very well have been a ‘not so pure’ English word at some point, right? But my generation of writers, speakers, readers grew up quite normally around it. And we also understand where to use it so it sounds appropriate. So if the criterion is extensive usage, let’s not worry about these inclusions and rather be aware of them so we know what language people are ‘understanding’ and ‘thinking’ in. I am a Twitterati, so I am happy I am recognised in the dictionary. Is there a word that describes that Sunday evening sinking feeling which is utterly painful as it dreadfully awaits Monday? That word. Maybe we could call it: Sundepression?
Ganga Bharani, author: I want to add ‘thalaivar’ as the superstar of acting
Language is man-made and it keeps evolving. We have an origin for each word which means that the language wasn’t born on a single day. The history behind each word and it’s origin carries some information about how people were and are during different periods of time. Languages evolve and so hundred years from now, we can’t expect people to say a word the exact same way we say it today.
Also hundred years later people will find why, where, when and by whom ‘lol’ was found. That will teach them a bit of history too. ‘Search’ has become ‘Google’, ‘photocopying’ is ‘Xerox’ — I’d want to add thalaivar as the ‘superstar of acting’. We do have foreign language words so I hope this will get added soon.
Bhaavna Arora, Author: ‘Ch***yapa’ would be a great addition
Today, times are changing with new needs and products being created continually. This obviously calls for the need to coin new words for them. Additionally, the advent of technology and a paucity of time necessitates popular words, making it more than just a fad — a welcome change to gen Y. My all-time favourite has been YOLO (meaning, ‘you live only once’). It truly inspires you to live like queen size and to go all out, because, why not? You live only once. I think a great addition would be the word ch***yapa (another word for foolishness). It makes total sense in the current political climate, aptly portraying politicians and their interest in politician gains. Arvind Kejriwal and his demand of proof for surgical strikes by his own country is perhaps a good example of this.
