We have a very mixed bag of new Words to Watch this month, ranging from PMOS, the new name for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), to the Marrickville pause, a pause in conversation common in Sydney’s inner west as an aeroplane flies low overhead. Young people are often seen as the driving force of language change, but we also have new terms about young people, such as gen Z stare, a blank, unresponsive stare seen as typical of young people in social situations, and Jessica, the gen Z or millennial version of the much maligned ‘Karen’. Finally, with the recent uptick in news about shark attacks and the ways we share their environment, shark bands have come up for discussion again.
PMOS
PMOS, short for polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, is the new name for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Medical researchers reported that the former name was confusing to patients, in that it misrepresented the common signs and symptoms of the condition. That is, the name understated the widespread effects of the condition on the whole body, leading patients and physicians to expect ovarian cysts to be a primary symptom, where in fact, an increase in pathological ovarian cysts is not a feature of PMOS at all. As suggested by the new name, the condition is caused by the endocrine system, and symptoms are subsequently spread across areas tied to this system, such as ovulation, menstruation, hair growth, and insulin resistance and weight management.
Jessica
We’re all familiar with ‘Karen’s these days, a term used to describe people (most commonly white, middle-class, gen X women) who are seen to have a rude and entitled attitude. While ‘Karen’ is sometimes used to refer to people outside the original demographic, new names also appear here and there. Names such as ‘Kevin’, ‘David’ and ‘Becky’ have floated around before, but we’re now seeing Jessica, referring to ‘Karen’s in millennial or gen Z age groups.
Marrickville pause
If you’ve spent any time in a suburb at the end of the runway of a major airport, you’ll have experienced the Marrickville pause – when a conversation has to briefly pause while an aeroplane comes in to land. Of particular note in Sydney’s inner west given the airport’s location surrounded by suburban housing, residents might find themselves pausing mid conversation without even realising it, continuing moments later as if nothing had happened.
gen Z stare
Many reasons have been suggested for the neutral, expressionless stare that has been attributed to people of gen Z in public spaces. On one hand, younger people might be rejecting the expectation of constant and fake cheerfulness in customer service. On the other hand, a lack of face-to-face interaction during the pandemic might have left them less confident in social interactions. Whatever the reason, it’s a phenomenon that many have noticed, and as members of gen Z move through their 20’s, it’s unlikely we’ve seen the last of it.
shark band
Following recent incidents involving sharks at Australian beaches, people are talking more about potential deterrents while out swimming, surfing, or diving. Shark bands are small, wearable bands that contain strong magnets. These magnets aim to overstimulate sharks’ electromagnetic sensitivity when they approach wearers, although there are some conflicting opinions on their overall effectiveness.
