Chapter 1
Where the words come from
Chapter 2
How slang goes viral
Chapter 3
Gen Alpha and the future of talk
Ch 1 · Where the words come from
sonia Video games created a specialized vocabulary that quickly spilled into everyday speech.
Fun Fact
Slang origins: The term "clout" originally meant a blow with the hand in 14th-century Middle English before evolving to mean social influence today.
Glossary
etymology (noun)
The study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history. In 2023, lexicographers traced the origin of 'rizz' to a shortening of the word charisma.
The study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history. In 2023, lexicographers traced the origin of 'rizz' to a shortening of the word charisma.