What Can the Coronavirus Teach Us About Language?

The lessons that we have taken away from the 2020 coronavirus pandemic are numerous, stretching from medicine and personal hygiene to economics and virtual education. It may come as little surprise, then, to learn that language has also been affected by COVID-19. Wondering how? Here are four things the coronavirus can teach us about language:

Language and psychology are closely linked

In psychology, the term "association" refers to the mental connection one makes between two ideas, “with the result that experiencing the first item activates a representation of the second.” If you hear or read or the phrase “Fourth of July,” for instance, you might picture American flags or fireworks. This is because your brain associates the Fourth of July with either (or both) of these concepts.  

Association is largely based on experience. So, the phrase “Fourth of July” can—and undoubtedly does—bring different notions to mind for different people. And associations aren’t permanent; they can change if a newer experience overshadows a previous one, whether for better or worse. For instance, last year, the word "corona" might have reminded you of a brand of Mexican beer. Or, if you speak Italian or Spanish, perhaps it was simply the equivalent of the English word "crown." Now, however, most would say the word “corona” conjures up unpleasant thoughts of a pandemic and its catastrophic effects. 

Language is continually evolving

Language is like a living being—it undergoes constant transformation. Aspects of language like grammar, pronunciation, spelling, and vocabulary are all known to change over time. You may notice this when you read 19th century literature, for example.

In Jane Eyre, an 1847 novel by Charlotte Brontë, the adjective “handsome” is regularly used to describe attractive women. In modern times, though, this qualifier is typically reserved for those who are “physically attractive in a traditional, male way.”

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the phrase “social distancing” was first uttered in 1957 and referred to an introverted or anti-social attitude toward group gatherings. However, in the coronavirus era, the term has taken on a more literal meaning: maintaining a physical distance from others to avoid spreading COVID-19.  

Another aspect of language that changes is the frequency with which we use certain words. Put another way, it’s normal for some words to gain popularity while others fall out of style. Oxford English Dictionary lexicographers have recently observed a sudden increase in the usage of certain medical and epidemiological terms, like quarantine, herd immunity, and personal protective equipment (or PPE), noting that “great social change brings great linguistic change, and that has never been truer than in this current global crisis.” 

Language expands to fill semantic gaps

Despite there being hundreds of thousands of words in the English language, sometimes that still isn’t enough. Think about it: how many times have you wracked your brain for an object’s name, only to end up pointing and calling it a “thingamajig” or “whatchamacallit”? 

There isn’t always an established word or phrase to label everything we see and live through, especially when life seems to be changing too fast for language to keep up. The apparent absence of a pre-existing term is what linguistics call a “semantic gap.” Some language speakers recognize semantic gaps and cleverly bridge them with neologisms, or newly invented words and expressions.    

A handful of creative and often comical neologisms have arisen as a direct result of COVID-19. Consider this one, which was highlighted in a recent article by dictionary.com: zumping, or breaking up over a video conferencing service.

Language can be used as a weapon

The principle function of language is to communicate. Language allows us to express a broad range of feelings and ideas with a simple utterance. When we speak with sincerity, phrases such as “I missed you,” and “It’s great to see you,” can make our listener feel special and appreciated. In the same vein, a hostile exclamation can awaken many negative emotions in the person on the receiving end. 

In recent months, we have seen language being used to educate the public—for instance, on proper handwashing techniques and virus transmission statistics. On the other hand, language has unfortunately been used by some to instill fear, divide communities, and place blame.  

In this piece, writer Shikuku Obosi expresses the hurtfulness of news reports that allege “only” the elderly and chronically ill are at serious risk of dying from coronavirus. While such claims are meant to comfort the masses, Obosi warns they insensitively categorize older and sick people as “acceptable losses.” 

While we cannot control what others say, we can analyze the messages behind their words and be more mindful when choosing our own. 

Tiffany Sorensen holds a Master of Science in Spanish-English Translation from New York University. She works remotely from sunny Mexico, where she gives English and Spanish classes, writes educational articles, and designs practice tests for the ACT.