Language evolves constantly, often reflecting the changes, challenges, and cultural phenomena of the time. The year 2024 was no exception, with linguists and social commentators alike observing how current events have influenced vocabulary. This year’s new words, as highlighted by the Språkrådet, not only offer glimpses of social reality but also capture trends primarily associated with technology, societal behaviors, and generational shifts.
One of the standout words this year is umarell, which refers to older men who take interest in observing construction work, often providing unsolicited advice. This term is derived from the emilian dialect of northern Italy, originally meaning 'little man.' It gained popularity through the works of author Danilo Massotti, and it humorously encapsulates the phenomenon of elders watching over public works projects as they take place. The usage of umarell has even seen traction across Sweden, with reports noting, "Nybrobygget i Härnösand has particularly caught the eye of umarells, who now have dedicated spots to observe the work,” reported by SVT Västernorrland on October 6, 2024.
The concept of mittokrat is another fascinating addition to the lexicon, reflecting frustrations about the increasing concentration of power and resources at middle management levels within organizations. Researchers Johan Alvehus and Gustaf Kastberg Weichselberger coined the term, arguing for the priority of core activities over bureaucratic maneuvering. “The core mission must be at the center of the public sector, and its objectives must take precedence. This is where the important work happens and where value is created. It is time to commence the move away from the kingdom of mittocracy,” noted by Dagens Nyheter on July 7, 2024.
Another term gaining momentum is coolcation, describing vacations taken to cooler climates. It signifies a shift where individuals from warmer regions opt for retreats to more temperate areas for leisure. This captivating neologism combines the words 'cool' and 'vacation' and reflects lifestyle changes seen during summer trends. Västerbottningen reported on September 22, 2024, “This summer, people from the south are seeking cooler latitudes for their so-called ‘coolcations.’”
New technological realities have also birthed the term slop, denoting low-quality content generated by artificial intelligence. Researchers at Amazon Web Services' AI lab reported alarming trends, indicating over 50 percent of sentences on the internet could be classified as 'nervously weakened slop.' The researchers expressed concern over the existential risks posed if such content continues to proliferate, warning, “If nothing is done, models will begin training themselves on their own poor language,” according to Dagens Nyheter on August 25, 2024.
Further delving deep, the term totalsträckskryptering signifies a technological method where only the sender and receiver can read the plaintext of messages, emphasizing security and privacy. This concept emerged during discussions on communication between service providers and users. Dagens Nyheter highlighted on June 19, 2024, “The proposal also includes so-called totalsträckskryptering, communication where not even the company operating the service can read the messages.”
Another inventive phrase introduced during the year is klicksanera, coined by F&F's Per Snaprud amid criticism of the problematic Millennium journal system. Snaprud commented on the wider issue impacting various digital systems: “Our digital everyday life needs to be clicked sanitized. Too many unnecessary clicks fill our days,” emphasizing the need for streamlined digital processes.
The increasing complexity of our lives, exacerbated by challenges like wars, crimes, and societal upheavals, has certainly influenced the genesis of these new words. The 2024 new words list researched and published annually by Språkrådet and Språktidningen, revealed the interplay between such events and the language we use. This exploration shows not only the linguistic creativity at play but also highlights how the language mirrors societal realities.
A point of interest is how the emergence of terms like umarell and coolcation ties back to generational behaviors and preferences. Generation Z is particularly influential in shaping the language through humorous terms, helping to create vocabulary relevant to their lifestyle and experiences. Yet, the weightier concepts like mittokrat and slop demonstrate more serious social critiques concerning authority and quality of information.
Each of these words contributes significantly to the narrative of 2024, presenting opportunities for reflection on how words can encapsulate curious eccentricities and harsh realities of modern life. The blending of humor and seriousness within this new vocabulary mirrors the nuances of society itself. Language is not merely about communication; it's also about identity, values, and culture.
The annual celebration of new words reminds us how living lexicons are formed through collective experiences, beliefs, and trends. The future will likely see the evolution of these terms and the birthing of even more as society continues to experience change and respond to contemporary issues. The words may be trendy now, but like all good expressions, they are poised to linger, grow, and evolve as they reflect the lives they originate from.
