[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.50,0:00:03.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I need to start by telling you a little bit
Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.07,0:00:04.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about my social life,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.56,0:00:07.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which I know may not seem relevant,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.47,0:00:09.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it is.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.22,0:00:11.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When people meet me at parties
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.15,0:00:13.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they find out that I'm an English professor
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.34,0:00:15.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who specializes in language,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.74,0:00:19.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they generally have one of two reactions.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.19,0:00:24.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One set of people look frightened. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.38,0:00:25.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They often say something like,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.97,0:00:29.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Oh, I'd better be careful what I say.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.28,0:00:32.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm sure you'll hear every mistake I make."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.50,0:00:36.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then they stop talking. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.55,0:00:38.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they wait for me to go away
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.95,0:00:41.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and talk to someone else.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.19,0:00:43.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The other set of people,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.22,0:00:45.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their eyes light up,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.65,0:00:46.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they say,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.88,0:00:51.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"You are just the person I want to talk to."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.19,0:00:53.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then they tell me about whatever it is
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.61,0:00:56.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they think is going wrong with the English language.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.14,0:00:58.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.51,0:01:00.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A couple of weeks ago, I was at a dinner party
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.83,0:01:03.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the man to my right
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.06,0:01:05.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,started telling me about all the ways
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.10,0:01:08.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the Internet is degrading the English language.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.38,0:01:11.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He brought up Facebook, and he said,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.62,0:01:17.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"To defriend? I mean, is that even a real word?"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.47,0:01:21.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to pause on that question:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.04,0:01:24.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What makes a word real?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.83,0:01:26.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My dinner companion and I both know
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.91,0:01:30.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what the verb "defriend" means,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.08,0:01:32.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so when does a new word like "defriend"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.78,0:01:34.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,become real?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.86,0:01:37.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Who has the authority to make those kinds
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.36,0:01:40.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of official decisions about words, anyway?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.78,0:01:45.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those are the questions I want to talk about today.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.08,0:01:48.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think most people, when they say a word isn't real,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.38,0:01:50.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what they mean is, it doesn't appear
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.24,0:01:51.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a standard dictionary.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.86,0:01:54.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That, of course, raises a host of other questions,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.33,0:01:59.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including, who writes dictionaries?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.72,0:02:01.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Before I go any further,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.05,0:02:03.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,let me clarify my role in all of this.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.49,0:02:05.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I do not write dictionaries.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.100,0:02:08.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I do, however, collect new words
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.70,0:02:11.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,much the way dictionary editors do,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.75,0:02:13.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the great thing about being a historian
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.57,0:02:14.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the English language
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.64,0:02:18.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that I get to call this "research."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.28,0:02:20.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I teach the history of the English language,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.62,0:02:23.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I require that students teach me
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.38,0:02:26.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,two new slang words before I will begin class.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.90,0:02:29.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Over the years, I have learned
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.22,0:02:32.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some great new slang this way,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.45,0:02:36.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including "hangry," which --
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.49,0:02:40.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause) —
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.19,0:02:42.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is when you are cranky or angry
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.54,0:02:46.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because you are hungry,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.77,0:02:51.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and "adorkable,"
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.55,0:02:53.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is when you are adorable
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.26,0:02:56.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in kind of a dorky way,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.28,0:02:59.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,clearly, terrific words that fill
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.47,0:03:02.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,important gaps in the English language.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.18,0:03:06.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.39,0:03:09.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But how real are they
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.06,0:03:11.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if we use them primarily as slang
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.28,0:03:15.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they don't yet appear in a dictionary?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.40,0:03:18.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With that, let's turn to dictionaries.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.21,0:03:20.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm going to do this as a show of hands:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.05,0:03:22.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How many of you still regularly
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.39,0:03:25.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,refer to a dictionary, either print or online?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.34,0:03:29.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, so that looks like most of you.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.53,0:03:32.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, a second question. Again, a show of hands:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.70,0:03:35.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How many of you have ever looked to see
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.90,0:03:38.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who edited the dictionary you are using?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.05,0:03:45.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, many fewer.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.68,0:03:49.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At some level, we know that there are human hands
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.36,0:03:50.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,behind dictionaries,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.94,0:03:55.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we're really not sure who those hands belong to.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.21,0:03:57.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm actually fascinated by this.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.55,0:04:00.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even the most critical people out there
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.02,0:04:02.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tend not to be very critical about dictionaries,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.61,0:04:04.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not distinguishing among them
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.50,0:04:06.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and not asking a whole lot of questions
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.57,0:04:08.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about who edited them.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.79,0:04:10.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just think about the phrase
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.41,0:04:12.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Look it up in the dictionary,"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.89,0:04:14.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which suggests that all dictionaries
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.57,0:04:16.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are exactly the same.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.27,0:04:18.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Consider the library here on campus,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.87,0:04:20.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where you go into the reading room,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.57,0:04:23.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there is a large, unabridged dictionary
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.44,0:04:27.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up on a pedestal in this place of honor and respect
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.32,0:04:29.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lying open so we can go stand before it
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.67,0:04:31.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to get answers.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.87,0:04:34.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, don't get me wrong,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.18,0:04:37.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,dictionaries are fantastic resources,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.38,0:04:38.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they are human
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.93,0:04:41.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they are not timeless.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.21,0:04:43.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm struck as a teacher
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.01,0:04:46.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we tell students to critically question
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.23,0:04:49.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every text they read, every website they visit,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.96,0:04:51.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,except dictionaries,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.45,0:04:54.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which we tend to treat as un-authored,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.62,0:04:57.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as if they came from nowhere to give us answers
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.26,0:05:01.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about what words really mean.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.60,0:05:05.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's the thing: If you ask dictionary editors,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.20,0:05:06.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what they'll tell you
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.36,0:05:08.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is they're just trying to keep up with us
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.67,0:05:10.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as we change the language.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.43,0:05:12.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're watching what we say and what we write
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.91,0:05:15.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and trying to figure out what's going to stick
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.07,0:05:17.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and what's not going to stick.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.22,0:05:18.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They have to gamble,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.54,0:05:20.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they want to appear cutting edge
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.29,0:05:22.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and catch the words that are going to make it,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.94,0:05:25.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,such as LOL,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.38,0:05:27.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they don't want to appear faddish
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.58,0:05:30.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and include the words that aren't going to make it,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.13,0:05:31.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I think a word that they're watching right now
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.94,0:05:35.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is YOLO, you only live once.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.32,0:05:39.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now I get to hang out with dictionary editors,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.81,0:05:41.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you might be surprised
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.32,0:05:43.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by one of the places where we hang out.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.54,0:05:45.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Every January, we go
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.67,0:05:48.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the American Dialect Society annual meeting,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.82,0:05:50.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where among other things,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.17,0:05:53.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we vote on the word of the year.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.93,0:05:56.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are about 200 or 300 people who come,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.93,0:05:59.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some of the best known\Nlinguists in the United States.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.37,0:06:01.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To give you a sense of the flavor of the meeting,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.23,0:06:04.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it occurs right before happy hour.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.53,0:06:06.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Anyone who comes can vote.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.61,0:06:07.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The most important rule is
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.92,0:06:11.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you can vote with only one hand.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.05,0:06:14.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the past, some of the winners have been
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.51,0:06:16.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"tweet" in 2009
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.100,0:06:20.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and "hashtag" in 2012.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.40,0:06:23.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Chad" was the word of the year in the year 2000,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.46,0:06:27.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because who knew what a chad was before 2000,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.28,0:06:31.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and "WMD" in 2002.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.70,0:06:34.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, we have other categories in which we vote too,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.50,0:06:36.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and my favorite category
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.09,0:06:38.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is most creative word of the year.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.47,0:06:41.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Past winners in this category have included
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.22,0:06:44.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"recombobulation area,"
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.28,0:06:48.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is at the Milwaukee Airport after security,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.08,0:06:50.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where you can recombobulate.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.64,0:06:52.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.12,0:06:53.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can put your belt back on,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.64,0:06:56.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,put your computer back in your bag.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.29,0:07:01.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then my all-time favorite word at this vote,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.62,0:07:03.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is "multi-slacking."
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.85,0:07:06.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.35,0:07:08.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And multi-slacking is the act
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.63,0:07:11.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of having multiple windows up on your screen
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.50,0:07:12.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so it looks like you're working
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.90,0:07:14.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you're actually goofing around on the web.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.100,0:07:19.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.38,0:07:24.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Will all of these words stick? Absolutely not.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.99,0:07:27.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we have made some questionable choices,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.89,0:07:29.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for example in 2006
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.56,0:07:31.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when the word of the year was "Plutoed,"
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.60,0:07:33.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to mean demoted.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.60,0:07:37.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.59,0:07:40.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But some of the past winners
Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.96,0:07:43.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,now seem completely unremarkable,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.87,0:07:45.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,such as "app"
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.39,0:07:47.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and "e" as a prefix,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:47.40,0:07:50.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and "google" as a verb.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.36,0:07:54.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, a few weeks before our vote,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.43,0:07:56.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lake Superior State University
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.21,0:08:00.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,issues its list of banished words for the year.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.99,0:08:02.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What is striking about this
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.92,0:08:05.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that there's actually often quite a lot of overlap
Dialogue: 0,0:08:05.69,0:08:08.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between their list and the list that we are considering
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.53,0:08:10.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for words of the year,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.78,0:08:14.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is because we're noticing the same thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.87,0:08:17.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're noticing words that are coming into prominence.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.90,0:08:20.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's really a question of attitude.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.05,0:08:23.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Are you bothered by language\Nfads and language change,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.72,0:08:27.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or do you find it fun, interesting,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.13,0:08:28.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something worthy of study
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.48,0:08:31.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as part of a living language?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.37,0:08:33.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The list by Lake Superior State University
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.52,0:08:36.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,continues a fairly long tradition in English
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.17,0:08:38.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of complaints about new words.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.44,0:08:42.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here is Dean Henry Alford in 1875,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.80,0:08:45.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who was very concerned that "desirability"
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.04,0:08:47.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is really a terrible word.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.49,0:08:50.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In 1760, Benjamin Franklin
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.22,0:08:51.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wrote a letter to David Hume
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.68,0:08:55.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,giving up the word "colonize" as bad.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.48,0:08:57.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Over the years, we've also seen worries
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.68,0:08:59.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about new pronunciations.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.57,0:09:02.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here is Samuel Rogers in 1855
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.62,0:09:05.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who is concerned about some\Nfashionable pronunciations
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.22,0:09:07.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that he finds offensive,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.23,0:09:10.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he says "as if contemplate were not bad enough,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.71,0:09:13.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,balcony makes me sick."
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.13,0:09:16.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.53,0:09:18.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The word is borrowed in from Italian
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.88,0:09:22.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was pronounced bal-COE-nee.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.42,0:09:25.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These complaints now strike us as quaint,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.36,0:09:30.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if not downright adorkable -- (Laughter) --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.31,0:09:33.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but here's the thing:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.04,0:09:37.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we still get quite worked up about language change.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.41,0:09:39.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have an entire file in my office
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.48,0:09:42.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of newspaper articles
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.54,0:09:45.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which express concern about illegitimate words
Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.23,0:09:47.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that should not have been included in the dictionary,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.11,0:09:48.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including "LOL"
Dialogue: 0,0:09:48.56,0:09:50.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when it got into the Oxford English Dictionary
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.63,0:09:52.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and "defriend"
Dialogue: 0,0:09:52.40,0:09:55.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when it got into the Oxford American Dictionary.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.17,0:09:57.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I also have articles expressing concern
Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.39,0:10:00.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about "invite" as a noun,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.26,0:10:02.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"impact" as a verb,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.22,0:10:05.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because only teeth can be impacted,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.19,0:10:08.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and "incentivize" is described
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.16,0:10:12.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as "boorish, bureaucratic misspeak."
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.67,0:10:14.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, it's not that dictionary editors
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.63,0:10:17.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ignore these kinds of attitudes about language.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.32,0:10:19.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They try to provide us some guidance about words
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.88,0:10:22.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that are considered slang or informal
Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.15,0:10:25.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or offensive, often through usage labels,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.29,0:10:26.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they're in something of a bind,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.98,0:10:30.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they're trying to describe what we do,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.64,0:10:32.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they know that we often go to dictionaries
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.96,0:10:35.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to get information about how we should use a word
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.73,0:10:37.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,well or appropriately.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.64,0:10:40.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In response, the American Heritage Dictionaries
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.66,0:10:42.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,include usage notes.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.80,0:10:44.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Usage notes tend to occur with words
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.92,0:10:46.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that are troublesome in one way,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.24,0:10:49.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and one of the ways that they can be troublesome
Dialogue: 0,0:10:49.11,0:10:51.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that they're changing meaning.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.04,0:10:54.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now usage notes involve very human decisions,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.47,0:10:56.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I think, as dictionary users,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.53,0:10:58.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we're often not as aware of those human decisions
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.77,0:10:59.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as we should be.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.87,0:11:00.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To show you what I mean,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:00.99,0:11:03.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we'll look at an example, but before we do,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.71,0:11:05.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to explain what the dictionary editors
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.69,0:11:08.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are trying to deal with in this usage note.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:08.99,0:11:11.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Think about the word "peruse"
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.66,0:11:15.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how you use that word.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:15.30,0:11:17.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would guess many of you are thinking
Dialogue: 0,0:11:17.84,0:11:22.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of skim, scan, reading quickly.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.38,0:11:25.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of you may even have some walking involved,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.21,0:11:27.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because you're perusing grocery store shelves,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.46,0:11:29.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or something like that.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.13,0:11:31.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You might be surprised to learn
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.61,0:11:33.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that if you look in most standard dictionaries,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.48,0:11:36.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the first definition will be to read carefully,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.25,0:11:38.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or pour over.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:38.70,0:11:41.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,American Heritage has that as the first definition.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.56,0:11:44.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They then have, as the second definition, skim,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.52,0:11:48.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and next to that, they say "usage problem."
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.32,0:11:50.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:50.23,0:11:52.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then they include a usage note,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:52.31,0:11:54.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is worth looking at.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.19,0:11:56.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here's the usage note:
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.10,0:11:58.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Peruse has long meant 'to read thoroughly' ...
Dialogue: 0,0:11:58.46,0:12:00.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the word if often used more loosely,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:00.23,0:12:02.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to mean simply 'to read.' ...
Dialogue: 0,0:12:02.39,0:12:05.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Further extension of the word\Nto mean 'to glance over, skim,'
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.32,0:12:07.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has traditionally been considered an error,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:07.77,0:12:10.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but our ballot results suggest that it is becoming
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.17,0:12:11.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,somewhat more acceptable.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:11.87,0:12:13.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When asked about the sentence,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:13.27,0:12:16.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,'I only had a moment to peruse the manual quickly,'
Dialogue: 0,0:12:16.00,0:12:18.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,66 percent of the [Usage] Panel
Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.08,0:12:20.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,found it unacceptable in 1988,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.42,0:12:22.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,58 percent in 1999,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:22.53,0:12:26.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and 48 percent in 2011."
Dialogue: 0,0:12:26.40,0:12:28.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ah, the Usage Panel,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:28.36,0:12:30.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that trusted body of language authorities
Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.97,0:12:33.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who is getting more lenient about this.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:33.82,0:12:35.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, what I hope you're thinking right now is,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:35.89,0:12:39.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Wait, who's on the Usage Panel?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.88,0:12:42.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what should I do with their pronouncements?"
Dialogue: 0,0:12:42.100,0:12:44.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you look in the front matter
Dialogue: 0,0:12:44.96,0:12:46.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of American Heritage Dictionaries,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.07,0:12:47.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can actually find the names
Dialogue: 0,0:12:47.64,0:12:49.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the people on the Usage Panel.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:49.21,0:12:51.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But who looks at the front matter of dictionaries?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:51.24,0:12:54.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are about 200 people on the Usage Panel.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:54.29,0:12:56.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They include academicians,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:56.67,0:12:58.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,journalists, creative writers.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.34,0:13:00.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a Supreme Court justice on it
Dialogue: 0,0:13:00.44,0:13:02.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a few linguists.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.34,0:13:07.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As of 2005, the list includes me.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.17,0:13:10.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:13:11.34,0:13:14.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's what we can do for you.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:14.71,0:13:17.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can give you a sense
Dialogue: 0,0:13:17.07,0:13:20.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the range of opinions about contested usage.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:20.12,0:13:23.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That is and should be the extent of our authority.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.48,0:13:26.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are not a language academy.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:26.89,0:13:29.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,About once a year, I get a ballot
Dialogue: 0,0:13:29.84,0:13:32.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that asks me about whether new uses,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:32.87,0:13:36.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,new pronunciations, new meanings, are acceptable.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:36.21,0:13:39.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now here's what I do to fill out the ballot.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.10,0:13:42.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I listen to what other people are saying and writing.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.61,0:13:44.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I do not listen to my own likes
Dialogue: 0,0:13:44.85,0:13:48.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and dislikes about the English language.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:48.06,0:13:49.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I will be honest with you:
Dialogue: 0,0:13:49.53,0:13:52.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I do not like the word "impactful,"
Dialogue: 0,0:13:52.48,0:13:54.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but that is neither here nor there
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.48,0:13:57.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in terms of whether "impactful"\Nis becoming common usage
Dialogue: 0,0:13:57.72,0:14:00.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and becoming more acceptable in written prose.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.97,0:14:02.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So to be responsible,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:02.02,0:14:04.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what I do is go look at usage,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:04.55,0:14:06.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which often involves going to look
Dialogue: 0,0:14:06.38,0:14:09.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at online databases such as Google Books.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:09.08,0:14:11.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, if you look for "impactful" in Google Books,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:11.90,0:14:15.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,here is what you find.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:15.10,0:14:17.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, it sure looks like "impactful"
Dialogue: 0,0:14:17.34,0:14:19.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is proving useful
Dialogue: 0,0:14:19.07,0:14:20.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for a certain number of writers,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:20.70,0:14:22.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and has become more and more useful
Dialogue: 0,0:14:22.30,0:14:24.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,over the last 20 years.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:24.26,0:14:26.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, there are going to be changes
Dialogue: 0,0:14:26.42,0:14:29.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that all of us don't like in the language.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:29.05,0:14:31.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are going to be changes where you think,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:31.23,0:14:32.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Really?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:32.22,0:14:35.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Does the language have to change that way?"
Dialogue: 0,0:14:35.90,0:14:37.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I'm saying is,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:37.59,0:14:39.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we should be less quick
Dialogue: 0,0:14:39.31,0:14:43.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to decide that that change is terrible,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:43.10,0:14:44.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we should be less quick to impose
Dialogue: 0,0:14:44.82,0:14:48.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,our likes and dislikes about words on other people,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:48.12,0:14:51.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we should be entirely reluctant
Dialogue: 0,0:14:51.03,0:14:53.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to think that the English language is in trouble.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:53.77,0:14:57.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not. It is rich and vibrant and filled
Dialogue: 0,0:14:57.97,0:15:00.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the creativity of the speakers who speak it.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:00.98,0:15:03.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In retrospect, we think it's fascinating
Dialogue: 0,0:15:03.60,0:15:06.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the word "nice" used to mean silly,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:06.98,0:15:08.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that the word "decimate"
Dialogue: 0,0:15:08.66,0:15:12.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,used to mean to kill one in every 10.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:12.16,0:15:16.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:15:17.16,0:15:22.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We think that Ben Franklin was being silly
Dialogue: 0,0:15:22.26,0:15:24.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to worry about "notice" as a verb.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:24.90,0:15:26.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, you know what?
Dialogue: 0,0:15:26.37,0:15:29.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're going to look pretty silly in a hundred years
Dialogue: 0,0:15:29.07,0:15:31.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for worrying about "impact" as a verb
Dialogue: 0,0:15:31.36,0:15:34.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and "invite" as a noun.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:34.18,0:15:36.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The language is not going to change so fast
Dialogue: 0,0:15:36.42,0:15:38.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we can't keep up.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:38.31,0:15:40.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Language just doesn't work that way.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:40.60,0:15:42.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hope that what you can do
Dialogue: 0,0:15:42.21,0:15:45.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is find language change not worrisome
Dialogue: 0,0:15:45.04,0:15:47.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but fun and fascinating,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:47.08,0:15:50.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just the way dictionary editors do.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:50.08,0:15:52.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hope you can enjoy being part
Dialogue: 0,0:15:52.05,0:15:57.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the creativity that is continually remaking
Dialogue: 0,0:15:57.05,0:16:00.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,our language and keeping it robust.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:00.33,0:16:03.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So how does a word get into a dictionary?
Dialogue: 0,0:16:03.25,0:16:05.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It gets in because we use it
Dialogue: 0,0:16:05.72,0:16:07.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we keep using it,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:07.34,0:16:11.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and dictionary editors are paying attention to us.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:11.58,0:16:14.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you're thinking, "But that lets all of us decide
Dialogue: 0,0:16:14.70,0:16:16.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what words mean,"
Dialogue: 0,0:16:16.44,0:16:20.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would say, "Yes it does,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:20.50,0:16:22.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it always has."
Dialogue: 0,0:16:22.85,0:16:26.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dictionaries are a wonderful guide and resource,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:26.77,0:16:30.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but there is no objective\Ndictionary authority out there
Dialogue: 0,0:16:30.27,0:16:34.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is the final arbiter about what words mean.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:34.04,0:16:36.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If a community of speakers is using a word
Dialogue: 0,0:16:36.56,0:16:40.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and knows what it means, it's real.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:40.15,0:16:41.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That word might be slangy,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:41.52,0:16:43.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that word might be informal,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:43.16,0:16:45.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that word might be a word that you think
Dialogue: 0,0:16:45.07,0:16:47.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is illogical or unnecessary,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:47.52,0:16:50.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but that word that we're using,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:50.08,0:16:52.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that word is real.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:52.43,0:16:54.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:54.77,0:16:56.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)