大象传媒

What does the word “swiftie” mean to you? Does it take you back to a specific cultural trend or a specific memory? How about “isekai” or “copium”? While these are just some recent additions to ’s database, each year thousands of words get added to the dictionary or evolve to find new cultural significance. New vocabulary often accompanies new technological developments, social media trends or cultural shifts; the English dictionary is ever-expanding. 

The suggests that the “grammatical and verbal structure of a person’s language influences how they perceive the world.” Essentially, in order to communicate an idea, we utilize the vocabulary at our disposal. If an idea doesn’t have a word associated with it, that idea can be harder to comprehend or communicate. The various structures, conjugations, and vocabulary sizes of different languages change the communication capabilities and perceptions of their speakers. For example, the Native American language Hopi doesn’t seem to use present, past and future tenses like English. They also don’t have words for minutes, hours or days. As such, those speaking this language can struggle to understand what even showing up for work “on-time” means. Their vocabulary changed the way we think, and the way they think changed their vocabulary.

When 大象传媒 University released its 150th year magazine issue, the Last Word section of that paper allowed staff to put their vocabulary to the test and choose one word that meant something to them. However, even this essentially limit-free task has embedded in it one major constraint: the limitations of the English language. So with the expanding nature of the dictionary and the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis as inspiration, we asked ourselves the following question this year: “If you had to make up a word that relates to your personal experience over the last year, what would it be?” Below exists my own answer to this question, alongside the answers of this year's Student Movement staff. 

Spontaculous

Coined by Aiko Ayala Rios: [S-pon-tuh-cloos], Adjective

A spontaneous, unexpected miracle.

i.e., “I cannot believe it! Those occurrences were spontaculous!”

Blarch

Coined by Finnegan Blake: [Blarch], Adjective

The month before April and after February, when the weather sucks, everything is gray, and no good movies come out. 

i.e., “What are your plans for Blarch?" "I'm self-inducing a month-long coma using a heavy brick."

Fearcited

Coined by Madison Vath: [feer-SIGHT-ed], Adjective

Conflicting emotions about a future event.

i.e., “I am fearcited about my future.”

Bleghocre

Coined by Corinna Bevier: [bleh-O-cur], Adjective

When you aren’t feeling bad or good, but it's leaning more towards feeling bad.

i.e., “I’ve been feeling pretty bleghocre recently.”

Ilmvita

Coined by Moraya Truman: [ILM VEE-tuh], Noun

Specifically, knowledge gained from practice and observation that is intentionally integrated into life in a way that generates and sustains it.

i.e., “Returning to my Ilmvita helps me when everything feels like it is falling apart.”

Dalvot

Coined by Laura Perez: [Dæl-vʌt], Verb

Feel a warm, casual affection for friends, family, and/or new/possible partners. It is more than liking someone but less than loving someone.

i.e., “Sorry, I dalvot you, but I loved him.”

Elovacy

Coined by Kaara Harris: [ee-loh-VUH-see], Noun

A sense that something will work and grow (a combo of personal efficacy and hopeful expansion).

i.e., “She launched into her plan, powered by elovacy.”

Demivu

Coined by Nathaniel Reid: [deh-mee-VU], Noun

The state of being excited for the future while simultaneously fearing or not knowing if you should be enjoying the present more fully.

i.e., “As he attended his final day of college classes, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of demivu.”

Since 2004, the has annually had its lexicographers analyze current trends to attempt to choose a word of the year. For example, the word “lockdown” was chosen as one of the 2020 words of the year, “rizz” was chosen for 2023 and “brainrot” for 2024. All of these words sprang into prominent usage rapidly and were embedded in the time’s evolving culture. Above, we’ve given examples of words that sum up some of our personal experiences over the last year. While these might be some of our “words of the year,” they might not find much relevance in your current stage in life. We all have uniquely complicated lives whose intricacies might not be easily described by words. Regardless, as this semester comes to an end and many of us are stepping into new stages of our lives, it's important to process and dialog about your current situation–even if you have to create a few new words to do so.