Taboo words from the University

“Climate alarmism” is the “Taboo Word of the Year 2019”. Ever since 1991, a jury has decided which linguistic behemoth has dominated the discourse in any particular year. With this campaign, the selection committee seeks to apply linguistic criticism to certain words and to draw attention to formulations that are, for example, obfuscating and misleading. Which terms from everyday university life can Freiburg students no longer stand hearing? Franziska Heinzler asked around the campus for those words on the do-not-use list and asked the students what a nicer alternative might be.

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Lisa, Psychology

“For me the answer is clearly ‘University funding’! The topic was very popular last year, but at some point I was over it. It doesn’t require an alternative phrase; what it really requires is action: If politicians would improve university conditions, you wouldn’t have to hear the term ‘University funding’ as often.”

Photo: Harald Neumann

Vincent, Media Culture Studies

“In radio production and media cultural studies, you often hear the word 'difficult', but with a very drawn out “i”, ‘diiiiiiifficult’. It is used in numerous contexts: when a topic makes you uncomfortable or when you want to end a discussion very quickly. I would prefer to finish a conversation and not run away from it.”

Photo: Harald Neumann

Lena, Physiotherapy

“The term ‘examination phase,’ of course! Because everyone is under a lot of pressure at that time and we would all rather be doing something other than sitting in the library all day. My alternative suggestion for the word would be ‘intense engagement with interesting subjects’.”

Photo: Harald Neumann

Philip, Economics and Sports

“2019’s word of the year for me is ‘gross.’ People say it a lot, and ‘gross’ is a word that is slowly getting on my nerves because it has become so commonplace. ‘Gross’ is used when you want to say: Something is annoying beyond all measure. But now ‘gross’ is the grossest word we have in our vocabulary.”

Photo: Harald Neumann

Lea, Psychology

“My no-go word from everyday university life is ‘exam-relevant’ because I find it a pity that so many exams are only aimed at very specific individual topics without taking the whole, large framework into account. I would find it much more interesting to study things in that context, but that would of course take way too much time.”

Photo: Harald Neumann