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In the past few weeks, I’ve heard people say “can you believe it’s already October?”

Yes, I really can, because being cooped up inside your home for long periods of time can make weeks seem like months.

We are in the home stretch, though, so let’s power through and hope for the best.

Fancy a guess which word nabbed the ‘SA Word of the Year’ title, then, as judged by the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) and media research company Focal Points?

Not COVID-19, not coronavirus, but something intrinsically linked to the pandemic – it’s ‘lockdown’.

Here’s IOL:

Candidates for SA Word of the Year were reviewed by PanSALB to decide which one captured the philosophy, mood or preoccupations of this particular year.

Keywords were tracked from October 2019 to September 2020, through their use on social media platforms and in everyday interactions. Their cultural significance was also measured…

“Reaching just under half a million mentions in print, broadcast and online and further mentions on social media and in daily conversations, all in just over six months, the word ‘lockdown’ is a worthy winner,” said PanSALB.

The exact number PanSALB settled on was 486 224 mentions.

Clearly, that doesn’t include boozy WhatsApp calls, and Friday quiz nights via Zoom, both of which helped many cling to a semblance of normality during these – wait for it – unprecedented times.

I feel like the word ‘unprecedented’ may also have been in the running.

Man, I miss precedented times.

“We can all attest to the rampage caused by the coronavirus, it is all that we have talked about as we continue to navigate through its unforgiving rage,” said PanSALB acting chief executive Willie Manana.

‘Rage’ is an accurate description of social media after many of President Ramaphosa’s 8PM addresses to the nation, too.

Let’s hope 2021’s SA Word of the Year is something a little more upbeat.

[source:iol]