I earn my money in a variety of different ways, including design, retail sales and various other services, but my main source of income for the past seven years has been writing. And in those seven years, I’ve seen the common person’s understanding of the English language drop like a stone. I mean, I get texts every day that look like the Cartoon Network threw up on my iPhone – they’re packed with emojis, from pizza to pigs and everywhere in between (and don’t even get me started about my friends’ usage of vegetables to convey something horrible). But I’ve always held up hope, because there are people who respect the English language and love to have debates about what is better between the serial comma and Oxford comma. People like the ones who make the Oxford Dictionary. And so I was super stoked to find out that they were naming their word of they year. What would it be?
Oh. It’s an emoji. Look at that. Not even a stinkin’ word.
Let me repeat that: the 2015 Oxford Dictionaries word of the year is the “Face with Tears of Joy” emoji, but you may know it better as “ROFL”.
Now look, they have some logic behind the decision. Emojis are super popular among all of the cool kids nowadays (read: not me), and among all of the different images you have to choose from, the “Face with Tears of Joy” emoji, according to their blog:
“… made up 20% of all the emojis used in the UK in 2015, and 17% of those in the US: a sharp rise from 4% and 9% respectively in 2014.”
Fine. Then I guess if a group as well respected as the Oxford Dictionary folks can get behind emojis, then maybe it’s time I step up my game. Is there an emoji 101 course I can take?
The following words made the shortlist:
Via the Oxford Dictionaries Blog
Kevin Whipps is a writer and editor based in Phoenix, Arizona. When he’s not working on one of the many writing projects in his queue, he’s designing stickers with his wife at Whipps Sticker Co.
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Hi! My name is Kevin Whipps, and I'm a writer and editor based in Phoenix, Arizona. When I'm not working taking pictures of old cars and trucks, I'm either writing articles for Creative Market or hawking stickers at Whipps Sticker Co.
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