Srsly Wrong Ep 154 – You Can Create New Words
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Jun 6, 2018 A playful dive into making brand new words and why coinage matters. They argue about whether invented words help thinking and share methods like compounding and affixes. You’ll hear original entries from their tongue-in-cheek dictionary and a game tracing surprising word origins. There are sketches imagining future terms and a look at internet-era neologisms and political language.
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Neologisms Let Us Think Faster
- New words compress complex ideas into short labels that speed thinking and communication.
- Sean and Aaron explain that nesting concepts in single words (e.g., 'couch' or 'scientist') enables efficient, layered human thought.
Show New Words In Action
- Demonstrate a new word in context instead of just declaring it; usefulness drives adoption.
- Sean recommends showing the word in action so listeners infer meaning and begin using it naturally.
Reuse Familiar Patterns To Make Words Stick
- Successful neologisms often reuse familiar patterns: affixes, portmanteaus, or acronyms.
- Examples include brunch (portmanteau) and laser (acronym), showing continuity helps uptake.
