Below is a short list of 5 vocabulary words mentioned almost daily on TV and radio and other predominant media. Thereby, they are most likely considered to be essential words. These words most likely must be known, used, and deeply understood by global leaders of today or they might as well count themselves out of the “globalness” of our world of 2021.
WOKE, DISINFORMATION, FAKE NEWS, THE TRUTH, CANCEL CULTURE
These five words appear to be among the essential words of the day.
Non-essential words are superfluous in comparison to these five words or collection of words/phrases. Non-essential words are simply non-essential because they do not evoke current dialogue, outrage, or even a call to question: ….” why is this important?”
For instance, in Psychology Today (June 2020, by Mike Brooks, Ph.D. titled,
“The Promise and Problems of Being Woke”, he states as he defines WOKE that as being, “aware of and actively attentive to important facts, issues (especially issues of racial and social injustice). In most instances, when people are WOKE, they tend to be overly sensitive to and/or angered over mistreatment of all others. This heightened awareness may be exhibited by their actions, thoughts, words.
Another word, “disinformation” may seem like a new word to some, but actually its use, according to Meriam Webster online dictionary can be traced back the 1930’s. The dictionary includes this statement as explanation of the word, “In 1939, a writer describing Nazi Intelligence activities noted ‘The mood of national suspicion prevalent during the last decade…is beautifully illustrated by General Krivitwky’s account of the German ‘
Disinformation Service engaged in manufacturing fake military plans for the express purpose of having them stolen by foreign governments.”.” (Meriam-Webster Online Dictionary)
It may be supposed that the term “Fake News” might be included as a part of disinformation. The only difference is in the media used to disseminate the information.
Well, then, if disinformation messes with the truth and “Fake News,” broadcasts it. What, then, is “truth?”
“Truth= “that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality.” (Dictionary.com).
“Cancel Culture” = “The practice of engaging in mass canceling as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure.” (Meriam-Webster Online Dictionary)
Finally, to conclude, this brief list, it should give rise to the reader, that this list of five it can easily be extended to well over a hundred, currently popular, well used words of 2021.
Usually, one word or two-word phrases carry more significance than most, long drawn-out sentences such as the word “pandemic”. What words are critical words of today?
How many of us can say we have a “truthometer” to determine the validity of statements out there in the universe such as statements like, “the pandemic has changed everyone’s life. Is that true? Is it true for everyone or just some of us? How can we prove something is true or fake? Today’s world seems to be ever evolving from one platform of beliefs to the next. How do we choose which one to follow, which way to go or think…when things/thoughts/words keep changing and so rapidly and old ways of thinking do not apply to today’s globally, ever more rapidly connected world?
5 QUICK TIPS – ADD “useful” WORDS TO your WORD BANK
- Have a purpose for the USE of the new word. Is it to keep up with current usage of the word or is it just to add a new word to your “word-bank”?
- Look up the new word in the dictionary.
- Gain pronunciation ability by practicing the new word aloud after listening to an authoritative source such as an online dictionary that has pronunciation.
- For further assurance of correct pronunciation, it may be best to record your voice while pronouncing the new word; then compare the dictionary recording with yours. Consulting a friend to help with these comparisons might also help.
- Be aware that there may be multiple pronunciations and/or multiple meanings.
