[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Yuri] The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) in the UK has selected "Goblin Mode" as the Word of the Year, according to major foreign media reports on the 5th. Goblin Mode is a newly coined term that refers to an attitude of rejecting social norms and behaving shamelessly and selfishly.
The OED explained that this word was mainly used this year to describe people who do not want to return to normal life after the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. It is also often mentioned as an attitude of resistance against excessively high aesthetic standards or lifestyles displayed on social media (SNS).
The British daily The Guardian described Goblin Mode as "waking up at 2 a.m., wearing only a long T-shirt, and going into the kitchen to make strange snacks," while The Times wrote, "Too many people have entered 'Goblin Mode' during a difficult year."
American linguist Ben Zimmer said, "Goblin Mode is a definitive 2022 expression that reflects the spirit of the times," adding, "This word grants people the right to abandon existing social norms and embrace new ones."
The term first appeared online in 2009 but began to be used frequently after appearing in fake news on Twitter in February this year. One Twitter user posted that actress Julia Fox revealed the reason for breaking up with her ex-boyfriend, rapper Ye (formerly known as Kanye West), was "because he didn't like my 'Goblin Mode'." As the tweet went viral, Fox denied using the term "Goblin Mode" on Instagram, but the word quickly spread.
The OED selects the Word of the Year based on the usage of over 19 billion words collected from English-language articles. Previously, only one word was announced as the final choice, but this year, "Goblin Mode," "#IStandWith," and "Metaverse" were nominated and subjected to an online vote.
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