Dana Declared 2024's Word of the Year: A Reflection on Language and Current Events
Dana has been selected as the Word of the Year for 2024 by FundéuRAE, a notable term that has seen its prevalence blossom in media coverage, largely due to devastating floods in eastern and southern Spain that took place at the end of October. This announcement came as part of a statement released by FundéuRAE on Thursday, an organization affiliated with the Royal Spanish Academy and the EFE Agency. Dana triumphed over eleven other contenders including gordofobia, narcolancha, and woke.
The term 'dana' (written in lowercase) is now a lexicalized common noun, tracing its origins to an acronym—Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos—which translates to 'isolated depression at high levels.' Its incorporation into the Spanish Language Dictionary was officially announced on December 10, marking a significant addition to the language.
When utilized as an acronym, 'DANA' is properly formatted in all capital letters; however, it is increasingly recognized in lowercase as 'la dana.' The plural form when treating it as an acronym is 'las DANA' rather than variations such as 'las DANAs' or 'las DANAS.' The term must start with a lowercase 'd' unless it begins a sentence.
The adoption and evolution of 'dana' from a technical meteorological term into a common expression is noteworthy, reflecting its impact through media dissemination and public discourse. This isn't the first time 'dana' has been regarded in a similar manner; it was a candidate for FundéuRAE's Word of the Year back in 2019 but did not clinch the title then. However, recurrent instances of meteorological phenomena and the accompanying media coverage have thrust 'dana' back into public consciousness.
Every year, FundéuRAE diligently selects its Word of the Year by evaluating a dozen candidates based on their media visibility and sociocultural discussions within the Spanish-speaking world. Terms are also judged for their linguistic intrigue, including their formation, meaning, or potential spelling ambiguities.
This year's competing candidates included: alucinación, fango, gordofobia, inquiokupa, mena, micropiso, narcolancha, pellet, reduflación, turistificación, and woke. The selection is historical, marking the twelfth occasion the foundation has honored a Word of the Year. Previous winners have included words like 'escrache' in 2013, 'selfi' in 2014, 'refugiado' in 2015, 'populismo' in 2016, 'aporofobia' in 2017, 'microplástico' in 2018, 'emojis' in 2019, 'confinamiento' in 2020, 'vacuna' in 2021, 'inteligencia artificial' in 2022, and 'polarización' in 2023.
As part of the lively discussions surrounding the Spanish language, some are advocating for inclusion of words like 'aliquindoi,' 'madrear,' or 'patatillas' in the RAE dictionary. In light of recent admissions of new words by the RAE, there's a playful call for imagination to be exercised in the language, potentially leading to the establishment of a fantastical Irreal Academy of Language inspired by outlets like Huff.
The evolution of language embodies the essence of cultural reflection, and 'dana' serves as a perfect example of how current events shape our vocabulary. As we venture into 2024, it stands as a reminder of the intersection between language and the societal narratives that inform our communication.
Related Sources: