These are new words or phrases that have caught my eye. My definition of a new word is one which is not in the Macquarie Dictionary online.
Some words seem to have more significance than others in terms of reflecting changes in the Australian culture, so I will give each word a Zeitgeist rating (ZG) within a range of 1-10.
If you disagree with the rating that I give, please argue your case in the comment field provided.
I would love you to contact me if you have made any new word discoveries of your own.
A phobia is a fear that is so irrational or so extreme as to impair our ability to function in a sane and sensible fashion. It is reasonable to be anxious about coronavirus but it is not good when that anxiety becomes extreme.
ZG: 7
Let’s hope that we manage to keep on top of this as we are managing to keep on top of the virus itself. The word, in that case, should have diminishing currency.
Read MoreIt seems that we have reached such a degree of familiarity with the coronavirus that we can shorten it to just corona, as to catch corona. It has been further shortened to rona or the rona.
ZG: 9
It seems that the subtleties of coronavirus any of various viruses of this type, SARS-CoV-2. for the specific coronavirus that we are dealing with now, and COVID-19 for the disease caused by SARS-COV-2, is beyond us. Corona will do.
Read MoreThe bin outing is dress-ups combined with putting out the garbage bins so that the adults in the house can turn a mundane chore into an opportunity to make a splash.
ZG: 7
The bin outing is simple but humorous and can be broadcast online. It seems to be Australia’s contribution to the world of conrona entertainment and community encouragement.
Read MoreLinked to the coronacation is the corona escape. This is when the whole family packs up and heads off to some isolated retreat in the country for an indefinite period to escape the dangers of COVID-19 in the urban environment.
ZG: 7
The time for this is well and truly over but briefly it seemed like a tempting daydream.
Read MoreThis is an enforced holiday brought about by the circumstances around COVID-19. The word is a blend of coronavirus and vacation, combined in a way that is similar to staycation.
ZG: 7
This is a word we will probably choose to remember, even when the need for it has passed, as one that is indicative of the times.
Read MoreThe increase in numbers of patients has brought to light this term which was part of hospital jargon. The surge capacity of a hospital is a measure of its ability to handle a sudden increase in patients.
ZG: 6
It really is a bit of hospital jargon brought to light by unusual circumstances. Let us hope we don’t have one.
Read MoreCertain gatherings have been found to spread COVID-19 in a fashion that was spectacular and these have come to be called super spreader events.
ZG: 9
The most significant of these are the ones that have come to be identified in retrospect. Of course the new rules are designed to make these a thing of the past.
Read MoreUrban Dictionary published COVIDIOT with the meanings (a) Someone who ignores the warnings regarding public health or safety. (b) A person who hoards goods, denying them from their neighbours.
ZG: 10
There has been some astonishment at the panic behaviour and the reckless behaviour exhibited by some members in our community which has prompted increased use of this word.
Read MoreHypnobirthing is a technique that applies the practices of hypnosis to the process of giving birth so that the mother can take control of her pain using relaxation techniques, deep breathing and meditation, positive visualisation and affirmation.
ZG: 6
For understandable reasons there is a fairly constant flood of advice to new mothers on how to manage childbirth.
Read MoreThe simplest definition I have found for this is ‘to stay 1.5 metres away from other people at all times’. This is from NSW Health.
ZG: 10
The golden rule of the pandemic which mostly people adhere to unless they are Covidiots.
Read MoreThe World Health Organisation has coined this word (info the shortened form of information + (pan)demic) to draw attention to the way in which hysterical rumours about COVID-19 are flooding the internet.
ZG: 8
A slightly artificial coinage deliberately created to draw attention to an important facet of the pandemic situation, so one which the WHO hopes everyone will learn.
Read MoreIt seems that milk baths are particularly recommended for skin conditions, sunburn, and reactions to poison ivy, but even just for generally dry skin.
ZG: 4
New beauty treatments come and go almost as quickly as new diets. It remains to be seen if bathing in milk becomes something we all want to do.
Read MoreWe played briefly with the German word hamsterkauf for the phenomenon of panic buying in the supermarkets, especially of toilet paper.
ZG: 4
I would have liked to give this word a higher score but sadly it shows no signs of staying the distance.
Read MoreOne of the preventive measures against CoVid-19 is self-isolation for anyone who has come into contact with someone who has the coronavirus but is not showing any signs of having contracted the disease.
ZG: 10
Self-isolation means not going out at all for anything. Most of us now are very close to that, making the occasional foray for food and toilet paper but hardly emerging otherwise.
Read MoreThe official name for this is respiratory clinic, sometimes pop-up respiratory clinic because of their pop-up nature. But the media and the general public have all gone for fever clinic.
ZG: 9
They are not everywhere yet but we are all aware of them and aware of the reasons for their existence.
Read MoreThis type of facemask is also known, more correctly, as a P2 respirator and is able to filter out fine particles from the air. Initially the demand in Australia was for protection against bushfire smoke but then it became part of the protective gear against the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
ZG 8
This is just a product, a device, and so is less interesting than other new words with more cultural significance, and yet it seems to have become a symbol for both the bushfires and the Covid-19 outbreak.
Read MoreThis is the coronavirus causing the outbreak of respiratory disease which originated in Wuhan in the province of Hubei in central China. The name is constructed from Co for corona, vi for virus and -19 for the year 2019 in which the virus was first identified.
ZG: 10
This is the second most significant thing to happen to us in the early stages of 2020. Its effect were felt throughout the world. The first was, of course, the bushfires which were watched nervously around the world.
Read MoreAs a carrier of an infectious disease a super spreader seems to be able to pass it on to a significantly larger than average number of people.
ZG: 7
A word that is on the margins of the media obsession with Covid-19. The fact that there don’t seem to have been any hasn’t given any impetus to the search.
Read MoreJust as the rest of the world is talking about the need for a sustainable diet and worrying about the effect that meat-eating is having on the planet, the carnivore diet appears and it’s all about eating meat, meat and more meat.
ZG: 5
This is possibly a diet that will not be around for very long.
Read MoreThis is the continuing drain on the mental and physical resources of a mother after her child is born. Mothers blame lack of sleep, and, in general, the need to set their own needs aside to keep up with the demands of bringing up a child.
ZG: 4
Not a common term as yet but one that will strike a chord with mothers of small children.
Read More
