Continuing our look at the evolution of language, here are some ‘new terms’ from the second half of the 20th century. Many of these originated in the United States as its cultural dominance grew following World War II.
- The top ten – (1958) The first ‘top ten’ of tunes or records. The ‘hit parade’ followed in 1958, and the first ‘top twenty’ was recorded in 1959.
- Breathalyser – (1960) A device for measuring the alcohol content of a breath sample.
- Game show – (1961) A television programme where contestants compete for prizes.
- Paparazzo – (1961) A freelance photographer pursuing celebrities. The term comes from a character in Fellini's film La Dolce Vita (1959). The plural is Paparazzi.
- Couch potato – (1979) Someone who spends their leisure time sitting around, especially watching TV.
- Junk food – (1973) Food with little nutritional value that appeals to popular taste.
- Road rage – (1988) Violent anger caused by the stress of driving.
- Identity theft – (1991) The dishonest acquisition of personal information for fraud.
- Mullet – (1994) A hairstyle short at the front and long at the back, popularised by the Beastie Boys.
- Spam – (1994) Flooding the internet with inane postings or advertisements. Based on the tinned-meat brand (1937) and the famous Monty Python sketch.
On reflection, many of these words seem to have been invented purely for our entertainment, reflecting the direction of modern society.
Bob Marshall