‘Bae,’
‘Foodie’ and ‘Enhanced Interrogation’ on List of ‘Banished’ Words for 2015
Thank you to SUZAN CLARKE - from the Jan. 1, 2015 broadcast of
Good Morning America
‘Bae,’ ‘Foodie’ and ‘Enhanced Interrogation’ on List of ‘Banished’ Words for 2015 (ABC News)
Do you grimace when you hear some call a significant other
“bae,” or throw out the word “takeaway” in a meeting? Do you gnash your teeth
when someone describes himself or herself as a “foodie” or take credit for
“curating” something that’s not in a museum?
You’re not alone.
Those are offenders that have made the list of 12 “banished”
words and phrases issued by Lake Superior State University in Michigan.
The list, released today, was created from more than 2,000
submissions from members of the public who take issue with certain words and
believe they should be banned, Thomas Pink, LSSU’s director of public
relations, told ABC News in an interview.
“It just seems that language always strikes a nerve with
people,” he said.
This is the university’s 40th annual list of words that are
highlighted for misuse, overuse or uselessness, according to a release from
LSSU.
The 12 words that made the final list were selected by a
university committee.
“We do look at which words and phrases get the most
nominations, but a word or phrase does not have to get a lot of nominations for
it to make the list if everybody agrees on it, and since it’s lighthearted we
all try to look for things that would make people laugh,” Pink said.
The banishment is by no means official. Dictionaries aren’t
changed, but the publication of the list is definitely noticed, Pink said.
In one case in the 1990s, an Arizona State Supreme Court
justice pinned that year’s list on a bulletin board in his office and forbade
any attorneys who had business with him from using the words, Pink said.
Entries to the university’s website came with reasons
supporting detractors’ disdain for the word.
Blan Wright, of Sugar Hill, Georgia, wrote of “bae”: “The
most annoying term of affection to show up in years. Also, the concept ‘before
anybody else,’ developed AFTER the word became popular. Reason enough for it to
be banned.”
Below are the eight other vexing words or phrases on this
year’s list along with nominees’ reasons for banning them:
Hack
-- Suddenly things that once would have been called 'tips' are now being called
'hacks.' It can't be because the one word is shorter or easier to say; and the
actual accepted meanings of ‘hack’ have nothing to do with suggestions for
doing tasks better or more efficiently -- quite the opposite, really.” – Sharla
Hulsey, Sac City, Iowa.Polar vortex -- “Wasn’t it called ‘winter’ just a few years ago?" -- Dawn Farrell, Kanata, Ontario, Canada
Skill set -- “Why use two words when one will do? We already have a perfectly good word in ‘skills’ (ending with an s, not a z).” – Chip Lupo, Columbia, S.C
Swag --“Whether it's a ‘free gift’ (banished in 1988) or droopy clothing, this word is neither useful nor fancy.” – Jeff Drake, Saint Albans, West Va.
Friend-raising -- “A horrible word that conflates the real meaning of friendship with usually hidden motivations to get at the other person's pockets.” – Mary Been, Sidnaw, Mich.
Cra-cra (or “cray cray,” a term which means “crazy.”) -- “I'm sick of hearing myself say this! Must be banned!” – Roxanne Werly, Traverse City, Mich.
Enhanced interrogation -- “A shameful euphemism for torture.” – David Bristol, Byron Center, Mich.
-Nation -- “Although a devout Wisconsin sports fan, I do not belong to Packer-Nation, Badger-Nation, Phoenix-Nation, or Brewer-Nation. Further, I am not aware of any team or mascot that has the carrying capacity to be a nation.” – Kelly Frawley, Waunakee, Wisc.
Among the proscribed words on last year’s LSSU list
were “selfie,” “twerking” and “hashtag."
