05/11/2016
The Ever-Evolving Lexicon: Words as Time Capsules
Language, much like a living organism, is in a constant state of flux. New words emerge, old ones fade, and many adapt to reflect the changing world around us. The recent unveiling of the latest edition of the Académie française dictionary, a monumental undertaking spanning 40 years, highlights this continuous evolution. However, it's not just official bodies that track these shifts. Every year, dictionaries like the renowned Larousse and Petit Robert diligently record the linguistic advancements, offering us a fascinating glimpse into the past and present.
Consider the words that might seem utterly foreign to younger generations. The term "Minitel," for instance, a once-ubiquitous French videotex service, recently drew a blank from a teenager interviewed on national television, who admitted to having "never heard" of it. Conversely, words like "vocal" or "TikTokeur" are unlikely to resonate with older individuals, illustrating the generational divides that language can create.
The entry dates of words within dictionaries serve as powerful markers of specific eras. In the Petit Robert, "contestataire" (protester) made its debut in 1968, a year synonymous with social and political upheaval. Similarly, "walkman" arrived in 1980, heralding the era of portable music. Other entries can be surprisingly anachronistic. For example, a survey of Parisians revealed one individual's astonishment that the word "rock" appeared in dictionaries as early as 1956, the year of her birth. Another found it hard to believe that "cool" has been in common parlance since 1952.
This fascinating connection between words and time is not merely anecdotal. The Petit Robert, in celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2017, compiled a remarkable list of words and their corresponding entry years. This list acts as a unique chronological map of our cultural and technological history, allowing us to pinpoint words that share our own birth year. It's a delightful way to engage with language, testing the knowledge of friends and family with a touch of nostalgic fun.
Words Through the Decades: A Comparative Look
To truly appreciate the linguistic journey, let's examine some notable word entries across different decades, as documented by the Petit Robert. This provides a tangible sense of how societal changes and technological advancements are mirrored in our vocabulary.
| Year | Notable Word Entries (Petit Robert) |
|---|---|
| 1950s | Science-fiction, Vespa, Polaroid, Babyfoot, Cool, Rock, Scoop, Spoutnik, Bionique |
| 1960s | Verlan, Babysitter, Blue-jeans, Pizzéria, Cha-cha-cha, Contraceptif, Big bang, Scoubidou, Beatnik, Supérette, Alcootest, Antinucléaire, Magnétoscope, Surf, Spationaute, Yéyé, Fanzine, Happening, Granny smith, Flipper, Pub, Boum, Intox, Minijupe, Poster, Hippie, Contestataire, Mob, Pantacourt, Doudoune |
| 1970s | Hypermarché, Four à micro-ondes, Vidéocassette, Machisme, Fast-food, Ovni, Rétro, Top-modèle, Disquette, Camping-car, Sans-papiers, Ecolo, Rasta, Fluo, Look, Homophobie, Keuf, Jogger, Piratage, Deudeuche |
| 1980s | Minitel, Walkman, Tag, Meuf, Sida, Caméscope, Bodybuilding, Tchatcher, Hacker, Teuf, Doudou, Karakoé, Zapper, Alien, Fax, Best of, Droïde, People, Trash, Pin's |
| 1990s | Kifer, Négationnisme, Manga, Slam, OGM, Biopic, ADSL, Smartphone, Coming out, E-mail, Blockbuster, GIF, RTT, Emoticone, Panna cotta, Spam, Texto, Botox, Malbouffe, RnB |
| 2000s | Bobo, Zénitude, Bling-bling, Wifi, Blog, Ecoquartier, Boloss, Wiki, Climatosceptique, Chikungunya, Bistronomie, Sudoku, Ecoparticipation, Lombricomposteur, Spoiler, Cupcake, Vapoter, Zumba, Hashtag, Mot-dièse |
| 2010s | Cougar, Hackathon, Geeker, Big data, MOOC, Nomophobie, Selfie, Droniste, Ubériser, Chelou, E-cigarette, Vegan, S'enjailler, Spoiler, Emoji |
Why Do Words Change? The Driving Forces
The influx of new words and the evolution of existing ones are driven by several key factors:
- Technological Advancements: Innovations like the Minitel, Walkman, smartphones, and the internet have necessitated new terminology. Words like "ADSL," "smartphone," "e-mail," "blog," and "hashtag" are direct results of technological progress.
- Social and Cultural Shifts: Major societal changes, political movements, and evolving cultural trends introduce new concepts and ideas that require linguistic expression. The 1960s saw the rise of "hippie," "contestataire," and "minijupe," reflecting a period of significant social change. Similarly, terms like "homophobie," "sans-papiers," and "écolo" reflect growing awareness and discourse around social and environmental issues.
- Globalization and Cultural Exchange: Increased international interaction leads to the adoption and adaptation of words from other languages. The presence of "rock," "cool," "walkman," "spaghetti," "pizza," and "emoji" in French dictionaries demonstrates this global linguistic influence.
- Linguistic Innovation: Sometimes, new words are coined through creative processes like blending existing words (e.g., "spationaute" from "spatial" and "astronaute"), using prefixes and suffixes, or creating entirely new terms. Slang and colloquialisms also play a role in enriching the lexicon.
Your Turn: Discover Your Word Twin!
The exercise of finding words that share your birth year is more than just a fun party trick; it's a way to connect with history and understand the cultural context of your own existence. Think about the world when you were born. What were the major events? What new technologies were emerging? What cultural trends were taking hold? The words that entered the dictionary that year are often a direct reflection of these realities.
For instance, if you were born in 1980, the words "Minitel" and "Walkman" likely entered the lexicon around the same time. This tells you that the early 80s were a period of significant technological innovation in telecommunications and personal entertainment. If you were born in 2013, "Selfie" and "Droniste" might be your linguistic contemporaries, highlighting the rise of social media and drone technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How often do dictionaries get updated?
Major dictionaries like the Petit Robert and Larousse are typically updated annually to include new words and reflect changes in language usage. The Académie française dictionary, however, has a much longer revision cycle, with its latest edition appearing after 40 years.
Q2: Are all new words added to the dictionary?
No, not all newly coined words are immediately added. Dictionaries generally wait to see if a word gains widespread and sustained usage before including it. This ensures that the dictionary remains a reliable record of the language.
Q3: Can words disappear from the dictionary?
Yes, words can become obsolete and fall out of common usage. While older dictionaries might retain them for historical reference, newer editions may omit them if they are no longer relevant to contemporary language.
Q4: What is the difference between the Académie française dictionary and others like Petit Robert?
The Académie française dictionary is considered the official dictionary of the French language, aiming to establish and preserve linguistic norms. Dictionaries like the Petit Robert and Larousse are more descriptive, aiming to capture the living language as it is actually used, including neologisms and foreign borrowings.
Q5: How do linguists decide which words to include?
Inclusion is usually based on criteria such as frequency of use, the duration of usage, the word's relevance to current events or concepts, and its adoption across various registers of language. Editors monitor media, literature, and everyday conversation to identify emerging trends.
The Enduring Power of Words
The journey through words and their timelines reveals a profound truth: our language is a direct reflection of our history, our innovations, and our evolving society. Each word added to a dictionary is a small testament to the human experience, a marker of a moment in time. So, the next time you encounter a new word, consider its origins and its potential to become a part of our shared linguistic heritage. It's a reminder that language is not static; it is a dynamic, ever-changing entity that connects us all across generations.
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