Glossary For the Nineties: Press coverage
The Independent, September 7 1998: A phrasebook for a tour of New Britain
ONE THING to be said for the Nineties is that companies don't sack staff anymore. They "decruit", "downsize", "rightsize", "de-job" or "de-layer". These euphemistic redundancies might take place after a morning's "blamestorming" - debating who is to blame for a workplace fiasco.
If the employee won't leave quietly, then send for the "head- shunter" - the reverse of a head-hunter, whose role is to get you to leave the company without the costs of redundancy.
Neologisms (new words) are said to be the most acute barometer of the course our culture is taking. And a new book to be published later this month shows how the Nineties have given the language an armoury of neologisms - be they genuine attempts to define new cultural phenomena, or outlandish euphemisms dictated by political correctness or marketing agendas.
Marital status has its own Nineties labelling, as you will know if you are a "sinbad" (single income, no boyfriend, absolutely desperate) or even a "sitcom" (single income, two children and an oppressive mortgage).
But some of the most graphic additions to the language come in the arena of sex and sexual politics. On the disco floor one now apparently "binrakes" at the end of the evening. This means "to trawl around the dance floor in a last- minute bid to attract even the least desirable partner." The book adds that this is "particularly popular in Edinburgh," which is hardly complimentary to the young men and women of that city. Down south, one may not "binrake", but one does "downdate", which amounts to much the same thing, meaning "to seek a partner below one's expectations."
Lesbians have been on a linguistic journey in the Nineties - from the glamourous and chic "lipstick lesbian" to the "lug" (lesbian until graduation) to "lesbeing" (actively living the role), ending up with the vividly descriptive "hasbian" (a former lesbian who is now in a heterosexual relationship, as defined in Psychology Today).
A Glossary for the 90s, to be published by Prion, consists of words, all of which have been recorded in public use, whether in newspaper and magazine articles, or uttered by broadcasters and politicians. Others emerged from academic journals and billboard advertisements; specialist groups such as skateboarders and rap DJs; or were simply overheard by the book's author, the journalist David Rowan.
He said: " Some new words, already, have become so indispensable to modern life that it is hard to imagine how we coped without them: Was there really life before office workers had to 'hot desk' and newspapers worried about 'dumbing down'?
"At the same time, various subcultures are busy inventing their own words, often to stay ahead of mainstream society. Skateboarders, for instance, talk about 'bongos' and 'swellbows' so that only the initiated know they are referring to injuries.
"Professional groups also invent new terms to stay ahead of the pack. Doctors might talk about difficult patients as 'Gomers' (short for Get out of my Emergency Room!), or chat about treating a woman patient with a 'Tube' (totally unnecessary breast examination) - and all they are doing is reinforcing their group identity with terms designed to keep outsiders ignorant."
Many of the additions to the language are words that can be used to avoid saying what you mean, such as the Ambient Replenishment Opportunity advertised at Safeway in Stockport - a shelf-stacking job. And in America, used goods for sale are either "experienced", or the even happier- sounding "pre-enjoyed". (By David Lister, Arts News Editor)
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Evening Standard, September 7 1998: Are you a sitcom or a sinbad? It's the last word on Nineties life
THE ENGLISH language is in the grip of revolution, according to a dictionary of new words to be published at the end of this month.
David Rowan, the author of A Glossary For The 90s, claims the technological advances and media explosion of the past decade have led to a dramatic increase in communication which in turn has resulted in a raft of new words and expressions being coined.
He said: "The more talking people do, the more words they need. Language is not handed down from the Queen anymore. It's a verbal democracy now. I am thinking of sending Her Majesty a copy so she can keep up to date with modern culture."
Mr Rowan said neologisms (new words) were often invented by certain groups to make themselves feel exclusive. "Doctors might talk about 'tubes' (totally unnecessary breast examinations) or describe difficult patients as 'gomers' (get out of my emergency room) - all they are doing is reinforcing their group identity with terms designed to keep outsiders ignorant."
Similarly skateboarders talk about "bongos" and "swellbows" so only fellow enthusiasts know they are referring to injuries.
Retail analysts have devised jargon profiling various types of customer behaviour. "Splurchases" are the impulse buys made by supermarket shoppers of items they don't actually want. "Pester power" is the most common strategy employed by the nation's children to persuade their parents to cough up for clothes and computer games.
The glossary is compiled entirely from terms which have been recorded in public use, whether in television, newspapers, advertisements or simply overheard by the author. It covers every aspect of life in the Nineties. Sex, romance and marriage are dealt with exhaustively. Courtship on the disco floor ranges from arriving with "arm candy" (a good-looking member of the oppo- site sex on your arm), to "binraking" or "down-dating". These mean to seek a mate lower than one's expectations or, at last resort, "to trawl around the dance floor in a last-minute bid to attract even the least desirable partner", apparently "a practice particularly popular in Edinburgh".
Marital status is also labelled. Some couples grind under the penury of a "sitcom" (single income, two children and an oppressive mortgage). This is only a small improvement on life as a "sinbad" (single income, no boyfriend, absolutely desperate).
Lesbianism now enjoys a host of descriptions. They range from the transitory "lug" (lesbian until graduation) and "lesbeing" (actively living the role) to the turncoat "hasbian" (cited in Psychology Today as a former lesbian now in a heterosexual relationship).
Unpleasantness can also be etched from conversations. Those sacked in euphemistic "decruiting", "downsizing", "de-jobbing" or "de-layering" may have been the casualties of a "blamestorming session" - a debate deciding who is responsible for a workplace fiasco. They will then negotiate with the company's "head-shunter" - the reverse of a headhunter, whose role is to make them leave their job with a minimum redundancy payoff.
In America second-hand goods are now called "experienced" or the even cosier "pre-enjoyed". Even Safeway in Stockport shrugged off Northern bluntness when it advertised an "ambient replenishment opportunity" - a shelf-stacking job. (By Molly Watson)
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REVIEWS:
The Independent, September 27 1998: Paperback roundup
Glossary for the 90s: A Cultural Primer, by David Rowan (Prion; £6.99). If you know what it means to go affirmative shopping, or recognise when you have suffered a negative gross profit, you won't need this guide to neologisms. On the other hand, if you're a techno-babbling, netspeaking dwerb, you'll love this frivolous addition to the fast-expanding lexicographical canon. David Rowan translates the lyrics of obscure rap songs, trawls web sites, infiltrates skateboarders' gangs and the criminal, media and medical fraternities to find out what the English language is up to these days. He also trawls the respective jargons of spin meisters (apparently, "to enterprise" means to leak) and doctors with their notorious TUBES ("totally unnecessary breast examinations"). Happily, Rowan's efforts are as edgy and buzzing with street life as the argot he describes.
Evening Standard, December 14 1998: All the latest lexical licks
A Glossary for the 90s, by David Rowan (Prion, £6.99): This is firmly in what might be termed the "wacky world of words" corner, more kindly termed popular lexicography - but in no way the worse for that. Rowan has been amassing his Nineties neologisms via a small weekly piece in The Guardian, and this is the fruit of several years' labours. Neologistic lexicography, even as filtered through the august pages of such major players as Chambers, Collins or Oxford, is always a gamble. Brag up one's boom new words only to see them quietly slip from popularity before the book's on sale. Rowan's words are all new, which makes them enormous fun, but in many cases, one fears, of limited longevity. For every "trustafarian", there's going to be a "shoulder surf", for every "narco-terrorist", a "full Clinton". But language hits and misses are half the fun: watch these spaces. PS: one gripe - where's the index? (By Jonathon Green)
ONE THING to be said for the Nineties is that companies don't sack staff anymore. They "decruit", "downsize", "rightsize", "de-job" or "de-layer". These euphemistic redundancies might take place after a morning's "blamestorming" - debating who is to blame for a workplace fiasco.
If the employee won't leave quietly, then send for the "head- shunter" - the reverse of a head-hunter, whose role is to get you to leave the company without the costs of redundancy.
Neologisms (new words) are said to be the most acute barometer of the course our culture is taking. And a new book to be published later this month shows how the Nineties have given the language an armoury of neologisms - be they genuine attempts to define new cultural phenomena, or outlandish euphemisms dictated by political correctness or marketing agendas.
Marital status has its own Nineties labelling, as you will know if you are a "sinbad" (single income, no boyfriend, absolutely desperate) or even a "sitcom" (single income, two children and an oppressive mortgage).
But some of the most graphic additions to the language come in the arena of sex and sexual politics. On the disco floor one now apparently "binrakes" at the end of the evening. This means "to trawl around the dance floor in a last- minute bid to attract even the least desirable partner." The book adds that this is "particularly popular in Edinburgh," which is hardly complimentary to the young men and women of that city. Down south, one may not "binrake", but one does "downdate", which amounts to much the same thing, meaning "to seek a partner below one's expectations."
Lesbians have been on a linguistic journey in the Nineties - from the glamourous and chic "lipstick lesbian" to the "lug" (lesbian until graduation) to "lesbeing" (actively living the role), ending up with the vividly descriptive "hasbian" (a former lesbian who is now in a heterosexual relationship, as defined in Psychology Today).
A Glossary for the 90s, to be published by Prion, consists of words, all of which have been recorded in public use, whether in newspaper and magazine articles, or uttered by broadcasters and politicians. Others emerged from academic journals and billboard advertisements; specialist groups such as skateboarders and rap DJs; or were simply overheard by the book's author, the journalist David Rowan.
He said: " Some new words, already, have become so indispensable to modern life that it is hard to imagine how we coped without them: Was there really life before office workers had to 'hot desk' and newspapers worried about 'dumbing down'?
"At the same time, various subcultures are busy inventing their own words, often to stay ahead of mainstream society. Skateboarders, for instance, talk about 'bongos' and 'swellbows' so that only the initiated know they are referring to injuries.
"Professional groups also invent new terms to stay ahead of the pack. Doctors might talk about difficult patients as 'Gomers' (short for Get out of my Emergency Room!), or chat about treating a woman patient with a 'Tube' (totally unnecessary breast examination) - and all they are doing is reinforcing their group identity with terms designed to keep outsiders ignorant."
Many of the additions to the language are words that can be used to avoid saying what you mean, such as the Ambient Replenishment Opportunity advertised at Safeway in Stockport - a shelf-stacking job. And in America, used goods for sale are either "experienced", or the even happier- sounding "pre-enjoyed". (By David Lister, Arts News Editor)
++++
Evening Standard, September 7 1998: Are you a sitcom or a sinbad? It's the last word on Nineties life
THE ENGLISH language is in the grip of revolution, according to a dictionary of new words to be published at the end of this month.
David Rowan, the author of A Glossary For The 90s, claims the technological advances and media explosion of the past decade have led to a dramatic increase in communication which in turn has resulted in a raft of new words and expressions being coined.
He said: "The more talking people do, the more words they need. Language is not handed down from the Queen anymore. It's a verbal democracy now. I am thinking of sending Her Majesty a copy so she can keep up to date with modern culture."
Mr Rowan said neologisms (new words) were often invented by certain groups to make themselves feel exclusive. "Doctors might talk about 'tubes' (totally unnecessary breast examinations) or describe difficult patients as 'gomers' (get out of my emergency room) - all they are doing is reinforcing their group identity with terms designed to keep outsiders ignorant."
Similarly skateboarders talk about "bongos" and "swellbows" so only fellow enthusiasts know they are referring to injuries.
Retail analysts have devised jargon profiling various types of customer behaviour. "Splurchases" are the impulse buys made by supermarket shoppers of items they don't actually want. "Pester power" is the most common strategy employed by the nation's children to persuade their parents to cough up for clothes and computer games.
The glossary is compiled entirely from terms which have been recorded in public use, whether in television, newspapers, advertisements or simply overheard by the author. It covers every aspect of life in the Nineties. Sex, romance and marriage are dealt with exhaustively. Courtship on the disco floor ranges from arriving with "arm candy" (a good-looking member of the oppo- site sex on your arm), to "binraking" or "down-dating". These mean to seek a mate lower than one's expectations or, at last resort, "to trawl around the dance floor in a last-minute bid to attract even the least desirable partner", apparently "a practice particularly popular in Edinburgh".
Marital status is also labelled. Some couples grind under the penury of a "sitcom" (single income, two children and an oppressive mortgage). This is only a small improvement on life as a "sinbad" (single income, no boyfriend, absolutely desperate).
Lesbianism now enjoys a host of descriptions. They range from the transitory "lug" (lesbian until graduation) and "lesbeing" (actively living the role) to the turncoat "hasbian" (cited in Psychology Today as a former lesbian now in a heterosexual relationship).
Unpleasantness can also be etched from conversations. Those sacked in euphemistic "decruiting", "downsizing", "de-jobbing" or "de-layering" may have been the casualties of a "blamestorming session" - a debate deciding who is responsible for a workplace fiasco. They will then negotiate with the company's "head-shunter" - the reverse of a headhunter, whose role is to make them leave their job with a minimum redundancy payoff.
In America second-hand goods are now called "experienced" or the even cosier "pre-enjoyed". Even Safeway in Stockport shrugged off Northern bluntness when it advertised an "ambient replenishment opportunity" - a shelf-stacking job. (By Molly Watson)
++++
REVIEWS:
The Independent, September 27 1998: Paperback roundup
Glossary for the 90s: A Cultural Primer, by David Rowan (Prion; £6.99). If you know what it means to go affirmative shopping, or recognise when you have suffered a negative gross profit, you won't need this guide to neologisms. On the other hand, if you're a techno-babbling, netspeaking dwerb, you'll love this frivolous addition to the fast-expanding lexicographical canon. David Rowan translates the lyrics of obscure rap songs, trawls web sites, infiltrates skateboarders' gangs and the criminal, media and medical fraternities to find out what the English language is up to these days. He also trawls the respective jargons of spin meisters (apparently, "to enterprise" means to leak) and doctors with their notorious TUBES ("totally unnecessary breast examinations"). Happily, Rowan's efforts are as edgy and buzzing with street life as the argot he describes.
Evening Standard, December 14 1998: All the latest lexical licks
A Glossary for the 90s, by David Rowan (Prion, £6.99): This is firmly in what might be termed the "wacky world of words" corner, more kindly termed popular lexicography - but in no way the worse for that. Rowan has been amassing his Nineties neologisms via a small weekly piece in The Guardian, and this is the fruit of several years' labours. Neologistic lexicography, even as filtered through the august pages of such major players as Chambers, Collins or Oxford, is always a gamble. Brag up one's boom new words only to see them quietly slip from popularity before the book's on sale. Rowan's words are all new, which makes them enormous fun, but in many cases, one fears, of limited longevity. For every "trustafarian", there's going to be a "shoulder surf", for every "narco-terrorist", a "full Clinton". But language hits and misses are half the fun: watch these spaces. PS: one gripe - where's the index? (By Jonathon Green)
posted by David Rowan at Tuesday, January 01, 2002
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