Tracking the language that’s used at any one period of time is an excellent way of understanding the mind-set of that time. This is one of the reasons that the ‘Word of the Year’ tradition has become so popular – it offers a succinct way of reflecting back on the defining trends and concerns of […]
Tag: trump
Why ‘fake news’ is such a problematic term – and what we can do about it
There’s been a growing call for people to stop using the term ‘fake news’ and replace it with something more suitable. While the rationale for this makes perfect sense, in practical terms things aren’t quite so simple. So what can we do to prevent the term itself doing as much damage as the phenomenon it […]
Unparliamentary language, or The benefits of swearing in politics
If Theresa May were to stand up at the dispatch box and, in a fit of rage, call Jeremy Corbyn a ****ing ****, we can assume that by the end of the day her political career would be in a certain amount of jeopardy. For one thing, parliament has very strict rules about etiquette. As […]
