CCT300+LAB+9

The article Truthiness by Ben Zimmer, regards the “word” truthiness that was coined by Stephen Colbert from Comedy Central’s Colbert Report in 2005. The word truthiness had first been created as a sarcastic joke, but caught on surprising well. The word had always existed in the dictionary but never really used until it was brought up on the show.

Colbert infused the word more with an unburdened fact of truth. This is how he reintroduced words over and over again. It’s strange with how words are added to the New Oxford English Dictionary from an episode. Its interesting how one person’s perception of a word changes the truthiness of the words and thus the meaning which is why new words are introduced to the New Oxford English Dictionary? It shows the power he exudes on today’s dictionary. Its also surprising how one person only has the power over a dictionary to change words around along with the meaning. Verification of spelling, meaning and the variation in the way it is pronounced is powered by one individual. There is no governing council to delegate this power so how is it that only one person has so much of an authority to convey his power in such a way.

Zimmer goes on to note that authors and columnists have paid homage to "truthiness" by coining new words with similar constructions: "fame-iness," "referenciness," "proofiness."

I found it interesting just how serious of a level this word was being taken to. However as I recall, the dictionary should contain words that are correct, right and suitable.