When did Vinny and Pauly D replace Webster and Roget? Popular words and phrases always change from decade to decade and generation to generation. In recent years, however, our generation has contributed to the degradation of the English language. There is a growing push to have more Americans become bilingual, but how can we be expected to do that when we can barely master spoken English?

Instead of expanding our vocabularies and aiming for eloquence, our verbal skills are focused on being hip and slovenly. We may no longer use “sit on it,” “necking” or “daddy-o,” but the slew of recent hip terms that have arisen in the past few years would make the script of “Clueless” sound like a Thoreau poem.

Bro, broski or brah — If we cross paths out on the town and I do not know you, this is not an acceptable form of introduction; this rule also applies to dude or chief. When I go to Hy-Vee and ask for help, I expect to find a helpful smile in every aisle, not somebody directing me where to go followed by the term “dawg.”

Awesome or sick — At some point in time, these became the only two adjectives used to describe anything. Everything you saw, did or accomplished was not sick or awesome. At least awesome was meant to be used in a positive light, but when did something being “sick” signify glory?

Face palm, fail, epic fail — Perhaps the slang for which I have the most personal contempt, this collection of terms has become so ubiquitous among young adults outsiders would think all we do is fail. Obama’s stimulus plan may have been an epic fail, but an attempt to ride a laundry basket down a set of stairs hardly qualifies as epic in any sense.

TXT speak — It is acceptable on Facebook, Twitter and in a text message, not during a conversation. A prime example of our current level of laziness, speaking with text abbreviations is an insult to the expanse that is the English language. Is it that much harder to use the full words instead of LOL, IDK or TTYL?

Movie quotes — Who doesn’t love “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Anchorman” or the Hangover movies? They are comedy staples and some of the funniest films of our era. Nonetheless, no matter how funny Will Ferrell or Zach Galifanakis may be, every one-liner they delivered has a shelf life. 

Like, um, like — The epitome of squalid verbal talent. Not like in the sense of a Facebook status, but like in the sense of every other word of an unprepared class presentation where like, every, like, other word, like comes out minced between likes. Everybody hears it, everybody hates it, yet no one makes an effort to stop it.

Words are beautiful things. They can make us stop and think or motivate us to action. They evoke emotion or anger. Words and language evolve and grow so that we may better ourselves, not so we can relegate them.

Unfortunately, our vernacular gives a representation of the time. In 2001, Merriam-Webster added “bromance” and “tweet” to their official collection, along with the pop culture definition of a “cougar.”

While many remember dictionaries as a reference for expanding vocabularies, their basis for inclusion is usage. Thus, the eroding quality and simplicity of commonly used words has forced the utmost authorities in language to select these putrid terms.

The president of Webster’s even called “fist bump” as the “champion of the group.” This coming from the company that previously honored respectable terms such as admonish and insipid among its words of the year. How many times has quixotic or quagmire been used in daily speech by a college student?

Slang terms come and go. Some terms are inescapable, and it is difficult to not let a few slip. They may be popular, but does not mean they are fashionable. Take pride in eloquence and use originality in speech.