Sfaithful mirror of society, the language is enriched with new words every year that reflect current changes, concerns and trends. And, 2024 is certainly no exception. Many new words have emerged, neologisms which are nothing other than the most authentic expression of a society in motion.
Words of the year: for Treccani it is “Respect”
The last, in chronological order, to choose its words of the year, was the Institute of the Italian Encyclopedia Treccani, which for 2024, chose “respect” as the symbolic word of 2024underlining its extreme relevance and social relevance. The decision of the Observatory of the Italian Language Treccanidirected by Valeria Della Valle and Giuseppe Patota, wanted to highlight the need for a semantically and civilly correct use of this word, and at the same time its function as an indicator of a fundamental value to be shared in civil society.
Attention towards others
“Respect”, a continuation of the Latin respectus, is defined by the Treccani Dictionary as a «feeling and attitude of esteem, attention, regard towards a person, an institution, a culture, which can be expressed with actions or words». Della Valle and Patota underline how this word should be at the center of every pedagogical project from early childhoodand then spread to every area of social life: in interpersonal relationships, in the family, at work, in relationships with civil and religious institutions, with politics and with the opinions of others.
What are the words of the year 2024. For Treccani it is “Respect” (Getty Images)
But how strong is the lack of respect today?
The choice of “respect” as the word of the year takes on an even deeper meaning when you consider it the lack of respect that is the basis of everyday violence against women, minorities, institutions, nature and animals. Italian is full of expressions that contain the word “respect”, demonstrating its importance in our linguistic and cultural fabric. However, Della Valle and Patota warn against the improper use of some expressions, as “with all due respect”often used as a premise for aggressive and offensive verbal attacks, completely distorting the original meaning of the word.
The neologisms that enter the vocabularies
While Treccani invites us to reflect on the fundamental value of respect, the Zingarelli dictionary has included more than 1000 neologisms that reflect the trends and concerns of 2024: from “Eco-anxiety”the growing fear for the future of the planet, for example “Adultism”discrimination against young people. From “Catfishing”, to “gieffino”, “hype”, “maranza”, “bubble tea”, “overtourism” and “neurodivergence”, because there is «greater attention to a more inclusive terminology».
On the Devotee Oli of Le Monnier, however, Over 400 neologisms have been insertedsuch as advocacy, gender studies, ChatGPT, cyberstalking, downburst, food mill, forchiaiodashi, gastronaut, being on the bubble.
“Brain rot”, the Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year
The Oxford Dictionary chose “brain rot” (“brain rot”) as word of the yeara term that describes mental deterioration caused by excessive exposure to superficial and undemanding online content. This neologism testifies to the profound impact that the digital world continues to have on our cognitive abilities and mental well-being.
Demure or Brat?
The online dictionary Dictionary.com instead he focused on “demure”, a word that indicates shynessmodesty and confidentiality, perhaps as a reaction to the brazenness that often characterizes the online world. The opposite of the casual cheekiness of bratsword chosen for this year by the Collins Dictionary.
iO Donna © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED