The Oxford Dictionary's 2015 word of the year is ...
... you're looking at it.
Yep, in what will no doubt be hailed as the last gasping breaths before the death of language, for the first time ever, this year's Oxford Dictionary Word of the Year is a pictograph – or emoji – if you want to sound all modern-like.
The winning emoji is known as ‘Face with Tears of Joy’ and was chosen as the ‘word’ that most typified the ethos, mood, and preoccupations of 2015. It was, as you may have already surmised (bet there's no emoji for that word) the most used emoji around the world in 2015.
Now, I don't know whether to (Grinning Face With Smiling Eyes) or (Loudly Crying Face) when it comes to (Pile of Poo) on the English language. It makes me (Pouting Face) if I'm being honest. Sure emoji's have their (House) on the internet and with texting and blah blah blah, but putting them in the dictionary? Come on!! It's not called a pictographary. Dictionaries are meant to be filled with words damn it!! This, unfortunately, is where we're headed...
What do you think of this? Is this a sign of the times? Or should we fight for the life of language? (I am biased of course!)
What utter rubbish - are there not sufficient words in this rich and beautiful language of ours worthy celebrating? Do we need to concoct new words from our evolving slang, technology and vernacular to find a "word of the year". From memory, I think last years was "selfie" - how very pedestrian of our so-called academics.