From ivory tower to everyday talk

11 academic buzzwords taking over the mainstream

“Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going.” — Rita Mae Brown

I have spent a considerable amount of time immersed in both academic and professional circles, and have always been captivated by linguistic patterns and the evolution of language. I am the recipient of many language books as gifts — from language origins to other historical language oddities, a byproduct of my friends knowing this about me. And, as a doctoral candidate in computational rhetoric, my passion for language extends beyond theory to its practical applications in everyday life. Given my unique perspective in both worlds, I recently began reflecting on which academic terms have started to permeate mainstream conversations across technology, culture, and society. And there are quite a few that I could have listed but here are the most common ones that I keep hearing. I am sure other lists may exist based on contexts and area of study but these are the ones I hear in both academic and professional circles alike.