The life of a word depends on the users
SEO JEONG-MINThe author is a senior reporter on cultural news at the JoongAng Sunday.
“Goblin Mode” is the 2022 Oxford word of the year. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the term refers to “a type of behavior which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations.”
A goblin is a small, ugly monster bothering people in Western fairy tales. The OED explained that “goblin mode” was mainly used to describe people who refuse to return to a normal routine after the pandemic ended.
The OED chooses the “word of the year” based on the usage of 19 billion words collected from the English-speaking world every year. For the first time last year, the OED held a public vote on the three finalists selected by lexicographers.
Other new words in the final selection include “metaverse” and “#IStandWith.” Metaverse refers to a three-dimensional virtual world that resembles the real world. #IStandWith is an expression of support, and the use of the term has surged in the wake of the Ukraine war.
Some people do not necessarily think the meaning of “goblin mode” is negative, as it is often mentioned as a resistant attitude which refuses to follow the excessively elevated esthetic standards or lifestyle frequently showed off on social media.
At an event announcing the 2022 word of the year search, American linguist and lexicographer Ben Zimmer said, “Goblin mode really does speak to the times and the zeitgeist, and it is certainly a 2022 expression … People are looking at social norms in new ways. It gives people the license to ditch social norms and embrace new ones.”
The interpretation is possible if you divide the OED definition into two parts, “a type of behavior which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly or greedy” and “typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations.” In the end, the life of a word depends on how the users use it.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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