Jaywalking

These days I am discussing legal issues with my C1 students and I must say that it's been great fun so far. We have gone over some advanced collocations (to issue an indictment, to enter a plea, to serve time, to repeal a law, pass the bar exam, etc.) and, inevitably, we've had to deal with a lot of legalese (parole, deposition, verdict, etc.). We have also looked into specific crimes, some of which (such as identity theft or carjacking) have a distinctly exotic flavor while others (like bribery or abuse of office) feel sadly more familiar. Furthermore, we have tried to find answers to some relevant questions: What exactly qualifies as sexual harassment? What is the official definition of mass shooting? Is surrogacy legal in the U.K.? Today, however, I would like to center on an infraction that just about every country acknowledges, but very few take seriously: jaywalking.

Jaywalking is neither a crime nor a misdemeanor, but rather a simple civil violation. I would argue that most of us do it without giving it a second thought. Yet, it is technically illegal and can be a contributing factor to avoidable traffic accidents. I believe that there is a cultural element to people's general disregard for the laws against it because, at lesast in my experience, attitude change across borders. German pedestrians, for example, tend to comply with jaywalking regulations, whereas in France, Italy and Spain... well... not so much. I know it sounds like a massive stereotype, but, like I just said, that's my personal perception and I happen to have actually lived in all those countries. Still, just a couple of years ago, Bilbao City Hall launched a campaign to highlight the dangers of jaywalking and promote compliance with traffic signals and I can imagine that other European cities must have taken similar measures so that pedestrians learn to wait for the green light. Despite these efforts, though, the general attitude has not changed significantly. People still cross the streets where they are not supposed to. In other words, the laws remain rather pointless. So, it should come as no surprise to learn that New York officially decriminalized jaywalking last year. I imagine some of you may find the decision objectionable or unwise, but the truth of the matter is that the law against jaywalking was rarely enforced and clearly failed to work as a deterrent. In a way, it was like one of those silly laws or ordinances that are in effect but only theoretically. You want an example? In the state of Massachusetts, playing or singing the national anthem as part of a medley or adding to it dance music can result in a fine of up to $ 100. Yes. It is a real law. And in the Spanish city of Vigo, since 2022, it is illegal to relieve oneself in the sea or on the beach. Fines can reach up to € 750. One is left to wonder: have those laws ever been enforced?

Anyway, below these lines you have a great explanation of what jaywalking is and the sneaky reason why it came to be called like that. Enjoy!

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N. B. By the way, Hannah Fry is a professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. In my opinion, she's a brilliant, eloquent thinker whose command of the English language should inspire you to improve your oral skills. 😎

Words of the year 2025

Here we are again. The year's close is imminent, and already, the major dictionaries have followed tradition by announcing their words of the year. Since these choices usually offer a glimpse into the world that we inhabit, I think it's worth taking a glance at their picks.

Let's start in the UK. The lexicographers that curate the Cambridge Dictionary have chosen the adjective parasocial as the word of the year. In my view, this speaks volumes about the impact of social media on our workaday lives. How could a person possibly have a real emotional relationship (on some level) with a person they don't even know but feel close to? How about a personal relationship with a fictional character or a chatbot? All of a suddent I feel that the 2013 movie Her was eerily prescient. Anyhow, the Oxford Dictionary has also chosen a term which smacks of digital technology: rage bait. It is defined as "online content deliberately designed to elicit anger or outrage". So, basically, stuff posted by trolls on social media. The fact that speakers feel the need to name that reality is, in itself, another sign of the times, wouldn't you say? And finally, we have the Collins Dictionary, whose wordsmiths have opted for yet another term with a technological flavor: vibe coding. As it happens, it describes an AI-assisted programming technique.

Given this rather grim state of affairs, most of us would have welcome a refreshing change of tack coming from the United States. Unfortunately, the prestigious Merriam Webster Dictionary's pick does not stray from the domain of technology. Its word of the year is slop, which, as we know, refers to "low-quality AI-generated content". And I get it. It should be acknowledged that slop has indeed become ubiquitous. These days whenever I log on to YouTube I am flooded with tons of AI-generated crap: videos depicting a fake animal rescues, singers with perfect voices but no discernible soul or ads for questionable online fitness courses. And separating the wheat from the chaff can often be exhausting.

But let's go back to new dictionary entries. This year has seen the rise of quite a few new terms mogging (to outclass or look better than someone), rizz (abbreviation of charisma), delulu (funny version of delusional), doomscroll (to waste time scrolling on social media), sigma (independent and cool), etc. It remains to be seen whether those neologisms really have any serious staying power. Some of them will inevitably fall by the wayside, just like so much teenage slang from previous decades.

What I find truly bewildering, though, is that my favorite dictionary has also incorporated a nonsensical expression that only Alpha-Gen seems to use: "six seven". Yes. You read right. 6-7. If you're an adult you don't really need to understand it or worry about it because, let's face it, the fad will soon be yesterday's news, but, for the time being, it is alive and kicking and still going strong. As far as linguistics goes, it is an intriguing phenomenon. After all, it's not every day that a literally meaningless expression becomes so disproportionately popular. Those two numbers really mean nothing. Apparently its origin can be traced back to the lyric to a song by artist Skrilla, but it really doesn't mean anything at all. I suppose it's quite telling that a big part of its success can be put down to this random video:

For reasons beyond my ken, that clip went viral and turned the phrase into a global trend. These days many young kids shout "six seven" every time those figures are mentioned. And, believe it or not, they don't try to say anything at all. They just yell "sin seven" for the sake of it. Really. It's the ultimate nothing burger. I suppose this is the world we live in: a technology-obsessed reality in which Artificial Intelligence is used to create garbage and even preposterous expressions enjoy public approval... for no particular reason.

How to be polite

Seasoned travelers recognize that cross-cultural politeness norms vary and respect is manifested through diverse expressions. Thus, members of cultures where communication is more direct are usually perceived as blunt or unrefined by those who have been raised in communities that value the so-called soft skills. Conversely, what is regarded as civil expression may be considered superpolite in societies which value group harmony and avoid direct confrontation.

In Spain, for example, much of the meaning of an oral message is often derived from non-verbal cues, shared understanding and context. Instead of resorting to phrases such as could you possibly...? would you be dear and...? speakers will typically state what they would like and use few softening expressions, if any. In social gatherings interruptions are seen as a sign of engagement, not rudeness. As a matter of fact, silence in a conversation is often understood as a symptom of coldness or hostility and speaking in a roundabout way may feel contrived and suspicious. Indirect language is the type of expression associated to people who are trying to hide something. The sentence there is room for improvement is a way of masking an unpleasant truth. Would you rather hear that or you're not good enoug? How about you can do better?

Roughly speaking, in Spain we prefer honesty to extreme politeness, but there is a downside to our frankness. Oftentimes it makes us look abrupt or impolite to members of cultures in which courtesy is a priority. In reality, it is all a matter of perspective and choice. A tactful opinion uttered with an unsmiling face might defeat its very purpose and a friendly tone can sometimes make up for a slightly harsh statement. I know. Still, you're probably reading this post because you want to know how to be polite in English. Unfortunately, there are several ways of interacting with others in a polite manner and it's your duty to choose wisely.

Just think about this. When a friend wants your opinion about their objectively horrible sweater, what should you do? Lie? (I think it is nice) Tell the truth? (You look silly in that thing). Be sarcastic? (It definitely sets off your eyes). Avoid a real answer? (It's very you). There is no clear-cut response. You may argue that it all depends on individual speakers, that everybody is different, that some people are diplomatic while others don't hold back. And all that is most definitely true. However, not everything depends on individuals. Whether we like it or not, we must accept that certain cultures promote certain modes of expression and if you're learning English you should not dismiss cultural conventions that happen to be prevalent in most English-speaking communities.

Needless to say, there is significant variation among Anglophone people from different cultural backgrounds. That said, I believe some guidelines can be considered without slipping into crude stereotypes.

Generally speaking, Americans tend to be more verbally direct than British people. What do you need? is actually not an unusual question in the U.S. and a statement such as Netflix needs to fix this problem is more likely to be heard in Wisconsin than in Dorset. The funny thing about it is that, in a case such as that, there is no pressing need involved. The speaker is simply voicing a opinion in a way that feels "normal" it their dialect. A British speaker, however, might typically opt for a softer approach: I think they should fix that problem. That second option includes two filters: I think (=it is my opinion) and they should (=it is my advice / they don't really have to do it). Of course, being too courteous can also be problematic. Much like excessive irony, which morphs into sarcasm, politeness can become hypocrisy or involuntary self-parody. Also, is it fair to force your interlocutors to decode your constant euphemisms, understatements and white lies? I would say yes. To a language learner tentative language may be unclear, but to the native speaker most verbal cues are crystal clear even if occasional misunderstandings between American and British speakers do occur from time to time.

Whatever your thoughts might be on the tricky question of politeness, I believe that an advanced English speaker ought to be attuned to the nuances distinguishing a pressing demand from a tactful suggestion. When you're asking for a favor, remember that the sequence I need shows little consideration for the interlocutor and reveals a certain sense of entitlement. You can use it in certain contexts, of course, but it probably shouldn't be your default option if you're telling someone what you would like them to do. Just consider the difference between what you want is... (which is a casual way of giving advice in the U.S.) and if I were you I would.. (which reveals a more tentative approach).

The video below is a tongue-in-cheek explanation of how British manners work. Personally I find it delightful: the actor's tone, his voice, his over-the-top RP pronunciation. Everything is perfect. And even though it's obviously meant to be funny, there is a real message in it.