Are you keeping up to speed with the jargon trends of the year?
2020. The year that has offered us unprecedented times. Humanity has been forced into Iso, attempting to flatten the curve of Rona. Businesses are pivoting their operations to beat the economic downturn, while essential workers are battling the frontlines of a global pandemic. And apparently, it’s all Carole F*cking Baskin’s fault?
These are the buzz words of 2020, yet a mere six, heck even three months ago, such phrases would’ve been met with a hoard of baffled expressions.
Are you keeping up to speed with the jargon trends of the year? If you’re a little confused by it all – and who can blame you – we give you the CLS guide to the Buzz Words of 2020. Quite frankly, we think some of these words should go in the bin already:
Unprecedented– Most government officials and the press consider the world’s COVID-19 crisis to be unprecedented. And indeed, while this isn’t the first global pandemic, the situation we’re currently in is unlike anything we have experienced in our lifetime. Other possible contenders: unparalleled, unrivalled or unheard-of but unprecedented won the word of the year.
Lockdown– The word we know to describe a situation in which people are not allowed to enter or leave. Prior to 2020, most of us might associate the word “lockdown” with a prison. This time we are all apparent prisoners in our own homes to prevent the spread of the Rona (see below). Although home prisoners in lockdown in 2020 are allowed booze, Netflix, takeaways and visits to Coles.
Rona– Us Aussies love to abbreviate things. It’s what makes us Australian. So, it was only a matter of time before we shortened the world’s current pandemic – previously known as the Coronavirus – to Rona.
Self-isolation– Self-isolation arrived into our vocab as quickly as COVID-19 took over our lives. As the Rona (see above) began to spread, it became apparent that we should remain in our homes to avoid contact with other people. Before lockdown measures were put into place, thousands were choosing to stay home rather than go out, thus opting to “self-isolate.” See also: Self-quarantine, iso & self iso!
Iso– Lockdown rules across the country mean that we are now officially in iso aka isolation. Iso is new Aussie slang word ending in the oh-so-familiar ‘O’ that has spread across the country as quickly as the Rona. Much like renos, avos, hospo and journos – the Aussie slang words of yesteryear – 2020 is all about what we’re doing in iso.
Self-quarantine– Quarantine is a word associated with a time spent in detention when an animal or person might be suspected of carrying a disease. As we know, COVID-19 is a highly infectious virus and thus quarantine is now unfortunately common. Self-quarantine however appears to be a new thing, used to describe a situation whereby one puts oneself in iso (see above) for 14 days when arriving back into the country from an overseas destination in case one has the Rona. Rules changed recently to take the “self” out of the equation, and now all those who have travelled must return to Australian and quarantine by law.
Pivot– Businesses in all sectors are being encouraged to “pivot” their operations to survive these challenging times. In other words to come up with novel ideas to keep their doors open. Other contenders would be to remodel or reconfigure their functions, yet in 2020 businesses are rotating to survive. This doesn’t make much sense so we’d like to chuck pivot in the bin.
Frontlines– Usually reserved for the military, the frontline soldiers are those in the line of battle during wartime. Now the whole world is battling the same invisible enemy, and those on the frontlines are our health care workers, retail workers and service providers. See also: essential workers.
Essential workers– Unemployment levels around the world are (sorry to say it) unprecedented, as those who are not “essential workers” have been stood down. Health workers, emergency service workers and those who help keep the cogs of humanity turning all fall under this category. Retail workers, picker-packers, cleaners, technicians, teachers, phone operatives and farmers are just a few of those considered essential workers.
Flatten the curve– Never-before have we been studying linear scale graphs and data tables of a global virus growth as much as we have today. Flattening the curve refers to the line on the prediction charts, which presents us with the numbers of potential Coronavirus infections. By following the rules to stay home in iso, and social distance (see below), the curve on the graph becomes flatter meaning there should be less infections.
Social distancing– Social distancing means people should stay at home, only going out if it is necessary. When venturing out, one must keep 1.5 metres away from others to limit the spread of the virus. Some prefer to refer to this measure as physical rather than social distancing.
Economic downturn– With the world in lockdown and many businesses shut down, we are all very much aware that the global economy is in trouble. 2020 is not the first time we’ve seen a crisis of the economic kind although this time we are told, the economy is on the downturn.
Global pandemic– If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic. Epidemic being the prevalence of a disease in a region or community. Pandemic being the spread of a disease or virus across a country, landmass or in this instance, the world. Therefore COVID-19 is a global pandemic.
Carole Baskin– Just as the world fell into a pandemic depression, Netflix released the craziest true crime TV docuseries of all time. Tiger King arrived on our small screens and we all forgot about our troubles for a brief time, completely dumbfounded by the bizarre underworld of big cat exploitation in America. Carole Baskin, the founder and CEO of Big Cat Rescue is blamed for much of the series insanity (although really, they’re all as batshit crazy as each other)and all fingers were pointing to her strange endeavours, therefore everything is now “Carole F*cking Baskin’s” fault. Watch Tiger King to make up your own mind.
And there you have it, the CLS guide to the Buzz Words of 2020. Have we missed any? Which words would you like to throw in the bin?