COMMENTARY | Every year the various dictionaries release the list of words that have become so vital to the current English language that we have decided to officially incorporate them the coded record of our language. In recent years the new additions have had a decidedly technological slant to them. For example, the Concise Oxford English Dictionary recently announced they would be adding the words “retweet,” “cyberbully” and “sexting”. And earlier this year the larger and more inclusive Oxford English Dictionary added the so-called “online initialisms” of “LOL” and “OMG.”
Along somewhat the same lines, Lake Superior State University publishes a ” List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness.” Some of this year’s selections include “Occupy”, “Man Cave” and “Ginormous.”
Reflecting the trend of the dictionary to include more online slang, there is one “word” that has been making the rounds on the social media sites like Facebook and Twitter that is perhaps the most misused, overused or generally useless of them all.
“SMH”
Another online initialism meaning (according to wiktionary because it has not yet made the Oxford English Dictionary’s cut) “Shaking my head; used to show that one does not approve of something or that one cannot believe how ridiculous, bad, etc something is,” SMH is just starting to pick up steam and has not yet become too widespread in its use, however it deserves a special mention for the sheer magnitude of its uselessness. The need to express laughter (LOL) is at least an often enough occurrence to warrant an abbreviation. And the phrase “Oh my God” is similarly well-established. But “shaking my head” seem to have been born out of nowhere just like its abbreviation “SMH.” Hopefully it dies before it catches on too much.
It is also fun to look ahead to 2012 to see what words may make the list next year. It is an election year so campaign slogan words are likely to make the list, as are hot-button issues like “economy” and “unemployment.” Given that 2012 is the year of the apocalypse, however, the word that will likely be most overused is…
“Doomsday”
Whether by true believers or those poking fun at the Mayan legend, this word is already overused. By December 21 it will have saturated news coverage, social media and our general conversation and we will be sick of it. Now let’s just hope we’re around on December 22 to recognize it.