“Getting My Head Around” myself as a “Thoughtleader.” Using my “platform” to put 2019 “in the books.”
Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Lake Superior State University’s annual banished words list is such a treat, that I just had to…
Every Language Arts teacher and lover of words, in general, must get to the Lake Superior State University website and take a look at the list of words from 2019 submitted by folks throughout the year and edited down to a final list each December.
The tradition started 45 years ago as a New Year’s Eve activity with friends by LSSU public relations director W.T. Rabe has grown to a cultural phenomenon.
Just for fun, take a look at their archive of nominated words to be banished, which now number over 1000 words that are misused, over-used, and just plain ridiculous.
Sadly, many of these words are still in use, or shall I say “over-use” such as “battleground state” “double-down” and going back to the “Y2k” era, “it’s all good.”
Questions for Discussion
- How do words become over-used or misused?
- How does this list of banished words reflect the specific time of the culture?
- How universal do you think this banished words list might be.
Check out Lake Superior State University’s Banished Words site and have some fun!
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