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Current trends in culture may prompt the creation of a new word or phrase. In such cases, the cleverness (or idiocy) of the culture creating the trend and subsequent phrase may manifest itself quite boldly. Indeed, entire websites such as Wordspy have dedicated themselves to the collection, preservation, and exploitation of such words and phrases. Though sometimes useful in everyday conversation, many of these words and phrases are more amusing than they are useful.

For example, exhibit A:

Playlist Anxiety: n. Anxiety felt by a person who fears what other people might think of the music on his or her digital music player.

Of all of the things in this world to worry or be anxious about (relationships, money, ethics, the next meal), someone spent time worrying what people will think of their play list. They even thought about it long enough to give their worried feeling an official-sounding disorder name. At one time in my life, I scoffed at the notion of “playlist anxiety“.

I have become accustomed to listening to various types of music — music that sounds like clanging pots and pans, swarming insects, buses speeding down the highway, airplanes taking off, and other sounds that the average listener would simply call a chaotic mess if they were all to be mixed in a pot together. However, many of my acquaintances play and enjoy listening to and playing seemingly strange pieces of music, compositions that wander off the beaten path — so why should I be anxious about what I listen to? The weirder, the better! It makes me more tolerant, more well rounded, more educated and accepting. Besides, there must be something to this music if people make their living off of making it. Some even become famous. It’s all relevant, what some people would call noise.

Aren’t most things in the world relevant these days anyhow?

So, there are apparently additions to the English language that people accept because of the uncomfortable feeling they get from listening to deviant music in mixed company. The fact that this is true and that almost anything goes leads to an interesting phrase that I found on the same website.

And here, here is exhibit B:

Jump the Couch: v. To exhibit frenzied or aberrant behavior that makes it appear as though one is completely our of control or even insane

“Jump the Couch“ is referring to Tom Cruise’s questionable, frenzied behavior on the Oprah Winfrey show in May, 2005. . Not only did Tom Cruise make a fool of himself on television, but a phrase was created in his honor. I want one too. Can I do something remarkably stupid in front of millions of people and create a hip, new phrase for it? Maybe someone will put it on a web site dedicated to expanding the trendy vocabulary of Americans. Maybe (now, this might be a little far-fetched) a college student will happen upon my phrase and write an essay on it. Maybe the essay will even end up in her portfolio. And maybe she’ll revise the piece and submit it to her favorite online magazine, Mind Sprocket.

But I stray from the point. There is still one final example from Wordspy that I wouldn’t dream of not sharing.

And, finally, exhibit C:

Man date: n. A social engagement between two heterosexual men, particularly one that occurs in a setting other than a traditionally masculine venue such as a bar or live sporting event.

If someone from another country who was perhaps studying the American culture or was thinking about taking a little trip over here stumbled upon this web page one day, or came across this term in a dictionary, what kind of impression would they get of Americans when they saw that some go on “man dates“? It’s not bad enough that we are known around the world as being gluttonous when it comes to our health and lazy when it comes to our speech (after all, British is arguably the “real“ version of English, isn’t it?) — but now we have given ourselves another reason to be scoffed at by other cultures by compiling lists of ridiculous phrases that may or may not make any kind of lasting impression on the English language. Will America be seen as a culture made up of fads and constant change and motion, a culture forcing itself to think forward to an awkward extreme? A culture in which men go on man dates, leaving women home alone and wondering if their husbands are really and truly completely heterosexual since “date“ typically implies something slightly more meaningful than a casual get-together between friends that could never lead anywhere?

There is no conclusion

Though it is a necessary fact that language must evolve over time, it is also important to consider how much it actually needs to. When the word “anxiety“ gets attached to any random noun to create a new disorder, and when outlandish remarks or actions by celebrities prompt the formation of new word combinations, is that a prudent evolution of the English language? At the same time, can we prevent it from happening? Should we try? There is likely an equal amount of criticism to dish out to the sticklers who refuse to invite any new word into the English language or use slang or the contraction “ain’t“ (something so misunderstood that it may even deserve its own essay). The English language will always be in the midst of change, just as any other language is naturally inclined to be. So long as discretion and prudence are used when considering the worthiness of a possible new word or phrase, the English language can at least struggle to remain somewhat respectable beside its British counterpart.

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