isms are used by some people who feel that there are problems with gender-specific pronouns because they imply sex and/or gender However, sie and hir are very rare compared to other solutions and most commentators feel that it is unlikely that they will catch on. p> В· meritocracy (1958) As the suffix "-cracy" implies, meritocracy is strictly speaking a system of government based on rule by ability (merit) rather than by wealth or social position. In this context, "merit" means roughly intelligence plus effort. However, the word "meritocracy" is now often used to describe a type of society where wealth, income, and social status are assigned through competition on the assumption that the winners do indeed deserve (merit) their resulting advantage. As a result, the word has acquired a connotation of Social Darwinism and is used to describe aggressively competitive societies, with large inequality of income and wealth, contrasted with egalitarian societies.
В· dog-whistle politics (1990). Dog-whistle politics is a term used to describe a type of political campaigning which is "only heard" by a specific intended audience. It is usually used pejoratively by those that do not approve of the tactics. p> В· genocide Genocide is the systematic killing of substantial numbers of people on the basis of ethnicity religion political opinion social status or other particularity. culture - words or phrases evolved from mass media content or used to describe popular culture phenomena (these may be considered a subsection of slang Examples:
В· jumping the shark Jumping the shark is a metaphor used by US television critics and fans since the 1990s The phrase, popularized by Jon Hein on his website jumptheshark.com, is used to describe the moment when a pop culture icon, originally a TV show or similar episodic medium, is in retrospect judged to have passed its "peak" and shows a noticeable decline in quality, or when it has undergone too many changes that take away the original charm and interest.
В· Chuck Cunningham syndrome Chuck Cunningham syndrome is a term that refers to a television series in which a main character or a character otherwise important to the show's plot is removed without explanation. The term comes from the character Chuck Cunningham in the American television series, Happy Days
В· Baldwin (a good-looking man, such as one of the Baldwin family of actors)
В· Scooby Gang (a group which humorously resembles the teens on the cartoon Scooby-Doo
Imported - words or phrases originating in another language. Typically they are used to express ideas that have no equivalent term in the native language. Examples:
В· zen (1727). Zen is the Japanese name of a well known branch of Buddhist schools, practiced originally in China and subsequently in Korea Japan and Vietnam Zen emphasizes the role of sitting meditation (Zazen in pursuing enlightenment Zen can be considered a religion a philosophy or simply a practice depending on one's perspective. It has also been described as a way of life, work, and an art form. Zen is the common name for this branch of Buddhism in Japanese as well as in English However, in the last half of the 20th century, Zen has become an international phenomenon, with centers in many countries around the world. p> В· anime (1988). Anime - is Japanese animation sometimes referred to by the portmanteau Japanimation. It is often characterized by stylized colorful images depicting vibrant characters in a variety of different settings and storylines, aimed at a wide range of audiences. Anime is usually influenced by Japanese comics known as manga
В· detente (1960s). DГ©tente is French for relaxation. It was also the general reduction in the tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and a weakening of the Cold War occurring from the late 1960s until the start of the 1980s. More generally, it may be applied to any international situation where previously hostile nations not involved in an open war "warm up" to each other and threats are often neologisms to ensure they are distinguished from other brands. If legal trademark protection is lost, the neologism may enter the language as a genericized trademark Laundromat A laundromat (US), launderette (British), Washette (Southeastern US) or washateria (Southwestern US) is a store where clothes are washed and dried. This is often done by coin operated machines that are worked by the client. Laundromats may have a staff to wash the clothing; this is referred to as Fluff-n-Fold or drop-off service. Laundries are equipped with both washing machines and dryers, usually specialized ones designed to survive heavy use.
Literature
Many neologisms have come from popular literature, and tend to appear in different forms. Most commonly, they are simply taken from...
