Podcast Summary: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day – "Jabberwocky"
Release Date: February 21, 2025
Host: Peter Sokolowski
Podcast Title: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Introduction to "Jabberwocky"
In the February 21st episode of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day, host Peter Sokolowski introduces listeners to the whimsical term "jabberwocky." This word serves as a daily enrichment tool, enhancing listeners' vocabulary through expert explanations and contextual examples.
Spelling and Definition
Peter begins by spelling out the word and providing its grammatical classification:
"J-A-B-B-E-R-W-O-C-K-Y. Jabberwocky is a noun. It refers to meaningless speech or writing."
[00:06]
This clear breakdown ensures listeners understand both how to spell the word and its proper usage within sentences.
Usage in Contemporary Media
To illustrate "jabberwocky" in modern context, Peter cites a sentence from J.R. Moehringer published in The New Yorker:
"The British press now converted the book into their native tongue, that Jabberwocky of bonkers, hot takes and classist snark. Facts were wrenched out of context, complex emotions were reduced to cartoonish idiocy, innocent passages were hyped into outrages, and there were so many falsehoods."
[00:25]
This example highlights how "jabberwocky" is employed to critique meaningless or nonsensical discourse in contemporary media.
Historical Origins and Literary Reference
Delving into the word's rich literary heritage, Peter references Lewis Carroll's iconic poem:
"In his poem entitled Jabberwocky from Through the Looking-Glass, Lewis Carroll warned readers about a frightful beast with these lines:
'Beware the Jabberwock, my son,
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch;
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch.'"
[00:45]
This excerpt underscores the poem's fantastical elements and its role in popularizing the term "jabberwocky."
Evolution of "Jabberwocky" Over Time
Peter traces the word's journey from Carroll's imaginative verse to its modern usage:
"This nonsensical poem caught the public's fancy upon its publication in 1871, and by the turn of the 20th century, the word jabberwocky was being used as a generic term for meaningless speech or writing."
[01:10]
He emphasizes how the term transcended its poetic origins to become a staple in describing incoherent or trivial communication.
Related Term: "Bandersnatch"
Expanding the discussion, Peter introduces a related but rarer term from Carroll's lexicon:
"The word bandersnatch has also seen some use as a general noun, with the meaning a wildly grotesque or bizarre individual. It's a much more rare word than jabberwocky, though, and is entered only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary with your word of the day."
[01:35]
This connection highlights the broader influence of Carroll's creative language on English vocabulary.
Conclusion and Resources
Wrapping up the episode, Peter encourages listeners to further explore words and their meanings:
"Visit MerriamWebster.com today for definitions, wordplay, and trending word lookups."
[02:00]
He signs off, reinforcing Merriam-Webster's commitment to enhancing listeners' linguistic prowess through daily word selections.
Key Takeaways:
- "Jabberwocky" is a noun meaning meaningless speech or writing.
- Originates from Lewis Carroll's 1871 poem Jabberwocky in Through the Looking-Glass.
- The word has evolved to describe incoherent or trivial discourse in modern media.
- "Bandersnatch" is a related, albeit rarer, term describing a bizarre individual.
- Merriam-Webster provides ongoing resources for vocabulary development.
This episode of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day offers a comprehensive exploration of "jabberwocky," blending literary history with contemporary usage to enrich listeners' understanding and usage of the word.