expertSEM

As a self-proclaimed word nerd, I’m always looking for ways to incorporate grammar and language use into my posts on expertSEM. To do this, I usually have to stretch and morph the interactive marketing topic to fit my semantic agenda. But I’m happy to report that this week’s topic relates to both social media and words. The big news: unfriend was selected by the New Oxford American Dictionary as the Word of the Year.

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines unfriend as:

(verb) – To remove someone as a “friend” on a social networking site such as Facebook. As in, “I decided to unfriend my roommate on Facebook after we had a fight.”

Christine Lindberg, senior lexicographer for Oxford’s U.S. dictionary program stated that the word has “currency and potential longevity” and “real lex-appeal” (a much better candidate for Word of the Year, I might add). Unfriend is not actually a new word. The term can be traced back to 1659 when it was first included in the dictionary. In a recent NPR interview, Lindberg stated that the meaning of the word hasn’t changed much since that time, just the platform on which it’s used is different.

While I wasn’t completely awestricken to read that social media terminology made the list of finalists, I was somewhat surprised by the word of honor. I would have guessed that tweet or one of the numerous portmanteaus originating in part from Twitter (e.g., twitterati, tweeps, tweatheart), would have been number one. Or at least on the finalist list, which none were (see list below). I can only assume that Tweet Speak didn’t make it because these terms refer to only one site, rather than, conceivably, a term that applies to all social networks.

Then again, I would argue that unfriend is not all encompassing. You don’t unfriend someone on Twitter, you stop following them. Nor do you unfriend on LinkedIn, Digg or the majority of social networking sites, for that matter.

I also take issue with unfriend because I believe it should be defriend. Mostly because it rolls off the tongue easier. When discussing this story with a colleague, I said defriend numerous times without thinking. Plus, it rhymes with and is the opposite of befriend, which seems fitting. Still, you also could argue that this is the grammatically correct prefix.

According to Merriam-Webster, the prefix de- means “to do the opposite of,” “to do the reverse of” or “remove.” Un- simply means “not” or “contrary to.” If we dissect this meaning, unfriend literally means “not friend, ” or how I read it, that you have never “friended” that person. I see this as the “Ignore” button that I often click for high schoolmates that I’d prefer not to be friends with. I never was their friend–literally and on Facebook. By ignoring them, I have un(not)friended them.

And although I could argue until my face turned blue, it wouldn’t change anything. The New Oxford American Dictionary is not going to take back their choice (although they may just unpublish it or unannounced it!). So rather than moaning and groaning all post, let’s take a moment to reflect on the implications of this choice. We all know that social media in particular, and the internet in general, have affected our language. Emoticons aside (way aside, please), they’re changing the way we speak and the words we use. Yet, when a reputable and official lexicon recognizes these as acceptable terms , it becomes more than just quirky slang. The term is validated as is the medium to which it applies. Therefore, although I’m not a fan of the word, I do see this as another step in the right direction for social media. It’s more encouragement for social media to shed the teenybopper stigma. And in case you’re still miffed at Oxford University Press for selecting this seemingly trifling word, consider the 2007 Merriam-Webster Word of the Year: w00t. Yep, it’s true. Insert groans here. But don’t grumble too long, or you’ll miss the American Dialect Society’s call for nominations for the Word of the Year and Word of the Decade.

Just for fun, here’s a list of the finalists from this year:

Hashtag — while not an official Twitterism, it still relates to Twitter
Intexticated – driver that is distracted due to texting
Netbook — small, portable laptop
Paywall — blocking access to portion of website unless you pay
Sexting – I bet you can figure out this clever portmanteau
Freemium– free services provided with the hope that the user purchases premium services
Funemployed – enjoying your newly unemployed status
Zombie bank – a financial institution whose liabilities are greater than its assets, but which continues to operate because of government support
Ardi – oldest known hominid discovered in 1900s and announced this year
Birther – challenger of Obama’s birth certificate
Choice mom – person who chooses to be a single mom
Death panel – theoretical body that determines which patients deserve to live when care is rationed
Teabagger — person who protests Obama’s tax policies and stimulus package, often through local demonstrations known as “Tea Party” protests (ummmm, I’m not sure they understand the slang definition of this!)
Brown state – state with no eco-friendly laws
Green state – state with strict eco-friendly laws
Ecotown — you get the idea by now
Deleb – dead celebrity
Tramp stamp — tattoo located on the lower back of females (never thought I’d get to put this phrase on expertSEM!)