Tags
fingerprint word, Fingerprint words, language snobbery, linguistic signature word, linguistics, Signature word, signature words, sociolinguistics, Verbal tics, words
The one major factor which can support the claim that we descended from apes is that we copy. We imitate others – their actions, words, accents, body language etc. – not only as children but also as adults. We do that sometimes consciously and sometimes by habit or sometimes just like that – without realising that we did. Think about that annoying song that you heard and somehow you keep humming it all the time even when you don’t want to. A colleague told me that it is called an ear-worm. Whoever thought of that word had gotten the idea right. The same goes with words. When people around me use swear words all the time, I find that vocabulary creepily trickling into my vocabulary as well. And, I am not proud of that. It is also with other words – I copy others. At the same time, I find myself using some words repeatedly. I infect others with my vocabulary too and people begin to use those words. The author of today’s article calls these words fingerprint words – words that we own and repeatedly use, often without realizing that we do. Lately, my fingerprint word was awesome. Which ones are yours?