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KPBS Midday Edition

Top Words And Phrases Of 2015: Deflategate, Cuckservative, Nae-Nae

Grant Barrett, co-host of the public radio show "A Way With Words," leafs through a dictionary in this undated photo.
Grant Barrett, co-host of the public radio show "A Way With Words," leafs through a dictionary in this undated photo.

The Top Words And Phrases Of 2015: Deflategate, Cuckservative, Nae-Nae
GUEST: Grant Barrett, co-host, "A Way With Words"

The English language can change for the better or the worse, but it's never static. And 2015 was no exception.

Language is constantly reflective of changes in politics, technology, pop culture, you name it.

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Oxford Dictionaries named an emoji, the face with tears of joy used in social media and text messages, as its word of the year.

But other words such as "deflategate," "cuckservative" and, most recently, "schlonged" also got a lot of attention.

Lexicographer Grant Barrett, co-host of public radio's "A Way With Words," discussed some of his favorite words, phrases and hashtags of 2015 Wednesday on KPBS Midday Edition.

His show, "A Way With Words," with co-host Martha Barnette, airs on KPBS 89.5/97.7 FM at 2 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.