In Sweden the days after Christmas Day and up to the New Year are known as the “in-between days” (mellandagarna) and the normal greeting during this time is “a good continuation” (god fortsättning). The “in-between days” is also the period when the The Language Council of Sweden (Språkrådet) produces an official list of “new words ” that have entered the Swedish language during the previous year.
The Language Council of Sweden does not – fortunately – waste its time too much on futile exercises to defend against change (like the French do) but generally acts as an observer of change that has occurred. (I take the view that “defence of a language” and trying to prevent change is a meaningless exercise. The only language that does not change is a dead language and a living language is defined by current usage. Equally there is no such thing as “correct” spelling or grammar – there is only “accepted” usage).
Thirty seven new words are now acknowledged officially as having entered the language during 2015. However, the Language Council is also terminally afflicted by a deep-seated political correctness, especially about gender “equality” (this is Sweden after all). They sometimes try to be exceedingly good and try intentionally to introduce “gender-neutral” words – usually with little success. It is no different this time and this shows up in 3 of the words “officially” recognised (14, 16 and 35).
- avinvestera – to divest or disinvest (alternative divestera)
- cosplay – masquerade with participants dressed up as fictional characters from TV, films, comics or games (often Japanese)
- delningsekonomi – shared economy used for pooled activities where goods and services are shared (e.g. carpools, Airbnb etc.)
- douche – a douchebag
- dumpstra – to recover and reuse what others have dumped (from dumpster dive)
- EU-migrant – An EU citizen in another EU country for the better welfare and benefits (a euphemism often for Roma people)
- faktaresistens – resisting facts (and preferring conspiracy theories for example)
- funkis- – used as an adjective or a prefix and to do with people having functional disabilities
- geoblockering – geographic blocking of internet content
- groupie – a group selfie
- haffa – to hit on
- halmdocka – a strawman argument or position
- klickokrati – a society dominated by internet views(likes) from clickocracy
- klittra – verb for female masturbation (hardly used but a politically correct word introduced after a competition)
- kulturell appropriering – cultural appropriation
- mansplaining – (of a man) explain (something) to someone, typically a woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronizing (a politically correct word)
- naturvin – ecologic wine (usually not very good)
- nyhetsundvikare – a news avoider
- obror – ”unbrotherly”, unfriendly
- plattfilm – a flat film with no 3-D or VR effects
- rattsurfa – to surf while at the wheel (while driving)
- robotjournalistik – news journalism with computer generated articles
- självradikalisering – self radicalisation
- skuldkvotstak – income based borrowing limit
- ståpaddling – stand-up paddling
- svajpa – to swipe
- svischa – to Swish (use an App for transfer of funds)
- talepunkt – talking point
- terrorresa – a journey for the purpose of participating in ”terror” activities
- transitflykting – a refugee in transit
- triggervarning – advance warning that something unpleasant is to be published
- trollfabrik – troll factory
- vejpa – to ”vape”, smoke an e-cigarette
- vithetsnorm – a standard where ”white-skin” is the norm
- värdgraviditet – politically correct alternative to surrogate motherhood
- youtuber – a ”professional” video uploader
- ögonkramp – eye pain due to excessive looking at a mobile screen
Many of the “new words” recorded every year by the Language Council do not stand the test of time.
Actual usage always wins.
Tags: Language Council of Sweden, Swedish, Words
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