What's wrong with new words? 7 January 2010
Are new words the convenience food of language? It’s what comedian David Mitchell implies in a recent Guardian article. He explains he’s against novelty in language. For him, new linguistic arrivals such as ‘staycation’ and ‘unfriend’ are unwelcome visitors within the tradition of written and spoken English. There’s no doubt that many of these new words lack grace. Some are positively clumsy. Many of the most hated words are new members of the language family. But they are convenient, conflating meaning and context as they do. So are they something to be avoided or a quick, easy way to say what you mean? Copywriting aims to get the message across as quickly and as memorably as possible. But it is also about making that message interesting and relevant. And this means being selective. Not shoehorning in the fancy word for the sake of it or opting for the convenience phrase because it’s easy. But finding the right way to say what needs to be said and making it appealing. After all, people have always responded to words and the meaning they create. It’s the oldest tradition of them all.
Written by Camilla Zajac
Camilla Zajac is an award-winning copywriter dedicated to uncovering what’s exciting and unique about organisations and empowering them to communicate that with impact. Learn more about copywriting services from Green Light Copywriting.
