Perhaps the most ironic facet of the "brain rot" movement is that the word itself is brain rot.
Gen Z has become famous for its use of non-official vocabulary, that is, vocabulary not in the dictionary. More concerning, however, is the trend toward using a particular word. Last year, slay, in the metaphorical sense, was all the rage. Currently, cooked– as in inevitably doomed– is on everyone's tongues.
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There is no inherent problem with using these words; "slang" has existed long before the emergence of social media. In the 70s, hipsters used rad to express admiration, and millennials are still known for abbreviating words such as totally to totes, or perfect to perf. Language was never meant to be static; its progression over time is, in fact, very natural. The problem occurs when one's use of language degrades to the point where they can no longer speak or write with eloquence.
I myself am guilty of using filler words such as like one too many times in a story, or of saying literally in a non-literal sense. While not ideal, this sort of speech is normal, especially for teens, whose peers use similar vocabulary and language structures. What is concerning is how teens have lost their sense of language propriety in formal settings and academic writing.
Generative AI is, of course, another driver of this problem. If students can generate an essay with the click of a finger, they lose their ability to formulate complex sentence structures and develop an enriched vocabulary. Yes, the world is evolving, but the skills of rhetoric, and the ability to express oneself adequately, will be invaluable no matter how modern society becomes.
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George Orwell best articulates the power of language when he states
"But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought."
We must strive to have a language that expresses and fosters meaningful thought. How can we do so?
Through three simple methods.
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Get notified of top trending articles like this one every week! (we won't spam you)1. Read, Read, and Read
And by reading, I do not simply mean Wattpad (though innocuous enough in moderation); read books that truly inspire you, whose values transcend the page into your life. It is this type of edifying reading: Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Charlotte Brontë, Leo Tolstoy, and Silvia Plath that not only shapes your vocabulary, but your character. Classic literature is classic for a reason, and its timeless stories are well worth the time investment.
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2. Drop the filler words.
As I mentioned earlier, this is also an area where I could improve. A fun way to gauge how much you use the word like in a day is to replace it with Such As. In most cases, the preposition is likely unnecessary.
3. The Superpower of Synonyms
English has the advantage over other languages in that it has a vocabulary of over a million words. Some words are wonderfully specific and can describe sentiments so much better than conventional adjectives and popular brain rot. For instance, instead of telling your friend that she ate in her class presentation, tell her that her presentation eclipsed (outshone) all others.
Or, when someone texts you HRU? Respond with lackadaisical, meaning that you are feeling lazy, instead of saying nothing.
These changes, though simple to implement, will exponentially increase your breadth and command of language. Let us combat language that degrades our quality of thought and instead make having an extensive vocabulary the new trend.
