Johannesburg – The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), in association with media research company Focal Points, has announced the shortlisted words as candidates for the 2022 SA Word of the Year.
They include Phala Phala, load shedding, xenophobia, inganekwane and gaslighting.
The PanSALB said the SA Word of the Year is a word, term or expression preferred to reflect the passing year in language.
“To qualify for consideration, there must be evidence that the usage of the word or expression has increased significantly in the past 12 months across a broad range of media. The shortlisted words have, according to PanSALB, captured the ethos, mood or preoccupations of 2022,” the board said.
The winner of the 2022 SA Word of the Year will be announced on Monday, in commemoration of International Dictionary Day.
The day is observed on October 16 in remembrance of the first American lexicographer, Noah Webster, who is considered to be the father of the American dictionary, to emphasise the importance of learning while using dictionary skills and increasing one’s vocabulary.
“The SA Word of the Year shortlist gives a glimpse of the social issues that have been the preoccupation of our discourse and conversations on matters that affect us in the country. Social media has also brought that fun element of language use to the fore and subsequently made translanguaging more prominent,” said PanSALB chief executive Lance Schultz.
Other words or terms that were submitted and considered include immigrant, gender-based violence, iSigaxa sendaba, and wishy wishy.
The Star