Could you Xerox these papers for me?

When we write papers for the academic and professional fields, we tend to write in a very formal, consistent manner. Because we are trying to get ideas across in a straightforward way, we tend to stick to a very orthodox form of English. Compared to the day-to-day English we use when we speak to each other, it can differ drastically as it tends to lack the use of slang, colloquialisms, and other informalities we use in our speech. The influence of these informalities on the English language can be easily overlooked. New words are added to the dictionary every year. Twenty years ago, telling someone that you were blogging would have made no sense! Today, it is as valid a statement as any other.

A great source of new words comes when trademarked words are genericized. This occurs when a branded word takes on a meaning of its own. One of the most popular and controversial examples of a trademark taking on generic status comes from the Xerox Corporation, a company known for its document services and imaging products. The company is most famous for producing the first stand-alone photocopier, which was a commercial smash, selling thousands of models to offices, schools and businesses. Xerox's product was so successful that the company's name began to be used as a synonym for "photocopier". Instead of being asked to copy papers, workers were instead asked to "xerox" them. The brand name had become so deeply ingrained in daily language that it had become a verb with new meaning.

Another interesting case comes from Johnson and Johnson's Band-Aid brand of medical bandages, wraps and gauze. When we find ourselves injured by scrapes or cuts, we often reach for adhesive bandages, although we rarely refer to them by this title. Instead, we reach for band-aids, another trademarked word that has taken on new meaning—this time as a noun. The term has even evolved to refer to a quick-fix to a situation. For example, replacing a flat tire on a car with a donut wheel is only "a band-aid," because a real solution is eventually needed.

Looking at the current climate of the English language, it would appear the time is ripe for many new additions to our increasingly diverse and modern language. Modern examples are appearing every year. How often do we "Google" something, or "Facebook" someone? A decade from now, a whole new lexicon of branded names will be present in our everyday language—terms which today are merely brand names. Can you think of what things we will be saying or doing in the future that could come from a brand name? Post a comment and join in the discussion!

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