Don't put words in my mouth

It seems like it happens about this time every year: we are confronted with a "news" blurb about a handful of words being added to the dictionary.

I don't know why this annoys me, but it does.

Of particular annoyance this year was the so-called-word "bae."  If you choose to accept it into your personal lexicon, it is supposed to be an abbreviation of the legitimate word "babe."

You know, because "babe" is such a long word and so difficult to pronounce.  It practically demanded an abbreviated form . . .

Annoying as I find this annual assault on English, I am even more disgruntled by ongoing efforts to artificially alter the meanings of age-old words.

As a student of history, I understand words evolve over time--in pronunciation, spelling, and even meaning.  Sometimes, we even adopt words from other languages into English, because they have particular cultural import or when we have no existing term to suffice.  But, in the past, this has been an organic process--not one dictated from on high.

It is Orwellian (if not just plain absurd!) to attempt to legislate a word's definition, be it from a judge's bench or any other locale.

Stop policing our vocabulary!

It is what it is.

Unless, of course, you're Bill Clinton.  In which case, we must settle the meaning of the word "is!"

That is all for today's little rant. 

Book suggestion for the day: "1984," by George Orwell.

Carry on!