At the
beginning of each year, Lake
Superior State University (LSSU) publishes its Banished Words List consisting
of English words as well as phrases that have been deemed overused and abused
and thus need to be banished from the current consciousness. LSSU began this
Banished Words List in 1976 and it continues to this day. For the 2012 edition,
some of the words that made it to the notorious list are amazing (which made
the top of the list), baby bump,
ginormous, man cave and occupy.
On the flip side, another American university has, this time, come to the
defense of some English language words. Theirs is a list of words not for
banishment but for revival. Wayne State University has come up with its own
word list consisting of words that they believe should be once again, part of
the communication process. Instead of banishing words to oblivion, WSU is all
for reviving English language words and giving these words the chance to prove
their worth and reason for being. A group within WSU called Word Warriors has
made it their calling to give deserving words a chance for glory once again.
