We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
YOU MAY NEVER have heard the words “youthquake”, “antifa” and “broflake”, but according to Oxford Dictionaries, they are the words that defined the year 2017.
It has announced that “youthquake” is 2017′s word of the year, reflecting on a climate of deepening political unrest.
The term is defined as “a significant cultural, political, or social change arising from the actions or influence of young people”.
The word was first coined in 1965 by Vogue editor Diana Vreeland who used it to describe the post-war period of tumultuous change in fashion, music and attitudes.
It has seen a 400% increase in usage between 2016 and 2017, with Oxford Dictionary saying that it has been used to describe young people driving political change.
Youthquake’s use in Britain first built momentum this year in the wake of the June general election, when young voters almost carried the Labour Party to an unlikely victory.
[image alt="Capture" src="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2017/12/capture-1070-296x170.jpg" width="296" height="170" credit-source="Oxford%20Dictionary%20" class="alignnone" /end]
Oxford Dictionaries said the word sounded a note of hope following what it described as a “difficult and divisive year”.
“We chose youthquake based on its evidence and linguistic interest. But most importantly for me, at a time when our language is reflecting a deepening unrest and exhausted nerves, it is a rare political word that sounds a hopeful note,” Oxford Dictionaries president Casper Grathwohl said.
Sometimes you pick a word of the year because you recognise that it has arrived, but other times you pick one that is knocking at the door and you want to help usher it in.
“I think it’s time for a word we can all rally behind. A word we can root for and collectively empower as the word of the year,” he said.
Other words shortlisted for Word of the Year 2017 include:
The 2016 Word of the Year was “post-truth”, chosen in light of the Brexit vote and Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
The winds of change
blowing away Fina Gale,
@WoodlandBard: … oops, Fine Gale
There is a storm a coming alright…… A Shinner Storm #timeforchange
@dublinsnap:
Hope it blows ALL the politicians off the isle of Ireland. Wasters
@Patricia Mc Kenna: yawn
Hopefully Ciara will wipe out FFG on Saturday.
Ooops that wont suit the fogie voters…
@Gavin Tobin: that’s all the young and foolish people staying at home so….Sinn Fein have just lost half their electorate!
@IRL77: just off for a nap. Thank you, I’ve been having trouble sleeping. Yawn!
@Michael Burke: keep dreaming folks
@IRL77: we will vote why pick in us older more like it will affect
@Stephen: nightmaring
Dont you just live the FINE GAEL colours of the storm you could not make it up..
There will be a storm alright blowing them out of Government from what I can see and hear..
Haha, another storm in tea cup.
Blustery. Windy. Wet. Miserable.
But hey. Enough about Irish politics! What’s the weather like?
Its amazing the difference this will actually make to the voting. Id swear FG planned this. The SF vote will take as much battering as the trees will as Jockser & the boys wont walk out in the rain to vote……..
Great day for the drying.
The weather won’t suit those who buy their sliced pan in their jim jams…
@TouchingCloth: And usually with their palm in their Jim jams.
Vote SF Ciara….
Big storm already for Sinn Fein Mary Lou falling over herself With her minister for finance in the north Let’s not forget a young man was murdered in terrible circumstances
@Michael Graham: Let’s not forget over 4,000 homeless children in Ireland. Vote SF to give Irish citizens hope!
@Mike Ruddy: Don’t make me laugh! There are 20,000 homeless in Northern Ireland but SF were too busy grandstanding about the Irish Language to do anything about them for the past 3 years!
Okay let’s all vote for Clara on Saturday and hopefully all the candidates in the election will get a good shaking up.
@Jim Sullivan: did the wind blow your finger from i to l?
@Brian Dálaigh.Well doesn’t a slip of
the finger change change a word.Bless your observance. Perhaps you might have a comment on the actual article.
@Jim Sullivan: ah jaysus, just having a bit of fun. I’ve been known for my own faux pas. It wasn’t a dig at your spelling. I’ve often had my own misspellings.just making light of it.
@Brian Ó Dálaigh: Ok Brian.Comment taken as you intended.No problem.I do know that there are commentators that get great satisfaction from bringing to attention the grammatical mistakes of others on this forum.Hope you have a good day.
Hear that Conor? Go easy on the box kicks now will ya?
bit o rain
@ed w: yeah this is called a weather forecast.
Rainswept political squalls ahead so.
Hopefully Ciara will blow Leo away…
Speedy election with plenty of gusto. We’ll be blown into the polling stations wearing fashionable suits and dresses.
Bad weather means mostly the looney left and right will come out to vote. You want change? Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it!
What have strong winds on Sunday got to do with counting the votes?
Storm Mary-Lou would be more fitting
Holy Fc u. k.. winter brings winter weather.
I for one welcome our new winter overlords.
Poll: is it possible for irish people to not turn every story into a “joke” about politicians
1. No
2. No
3. F off
@thomas patrick: put me down for number 3 there Tom.
have your say