Modern Vernacular

Modern vernacular includes the words we use every day. These words can be slang, expressions, academic language, or tech terms. Modern languages respond quickly to changes in culture, the internet, technology, and business. How we communicate is shaped by many factors. Global communications, social media, and location all impact our language.

Modern vernacular is dynamic and responds to cultural trends or technological innovations. New words and phrases evolve rapidly, often influenced by Digital Media, memes, and texting. Blending cultures creates hybrid expressions due to the mixing of languages. Many people use group-centric terms to create an identity. Specific words reflect youth subcultures, medical organizations, financial institutions, and other groups.

Modern language allows for creative expression that can bridge gaps between cultures and generations. The fluency of modern language can also pose obstacles in communication between age groups and different cultures. The rate at which modern languages change can pose problems, but we thought we could have fun by offering a few definitions.

Slang

Lit: Exciting or Excellent

Ghosting: Suddenly cutting off communication

Flex: Showing off

Riz: Charisma  (Thanks to my grandson for explaining this one)

Tweens: Children who think they are too old to be spanked.

Cringe or Cringy: Embarrassing, awkward, or uncool.

Internet Acronyms (A few anyway)

LOL: Laugh out loud

DM: Dircet message

FOMO: Fear of missing out

G2G: Got to go

IMO: In my opinion

JK: Just kidding

Business and Marketing (Mostly)

Call-to-action: Ask people to do something

Responsive call-to-action: Ask people to do something now

Leverage branding: Use your brand to market something

Scalability: Anyone can use it

Crowdsource: Ask other people for help.

Social Platform: An Online place where people post pictures of their breakfast. (Just kidding...social platforms do have value.)

Mobile Ready or Responsive: You can view it on your phone.

Curated: We picked some stuff for you. (Or, this is stuff we want to sell)

Wearables: Technology Stuff you can wear.

Dynamic Content: Content you can change.

Gen X, Y, Z: Young People (younger than boomers)

Viral: Something many people have seen

Granular: Specific

Influencer: Someone who has developed an audience or following.

Cross-device compatibility: Works on many devices.

Proprietary: Ours

Branding: New word for reputation.

Buzz words: Trendy words for something popular

Intuitive: Easy to Use

Phablet: Phone and Tablet baby

Virtual:  Imitating reality.

Cutting-edge: Fairly new

Value added: Same old thing with a new perspective.

Engagement: Communicate with.

User-centric: Focused on the user

Mission Critical: It is important that this gets done.

Being aware of modern vernacular is crucial unless you want to be ghosted by your customers. A brand flex may help attract customers as long as your marketing isn’t cringe. If your new marketing campaign is lit, it may help you attract the Gen Z generation. OK, I’ll stop. Keeping pace with rapidly changing language can be difficult. With a little effort, we can all keep up.