In economics, inflation is the erosion of the purchasing power of fiat currency over time. In 1935, you could purchase a liter of milk for 10 cents. Today, a liter of milk costs $1.48 on average in Canada. In other words, a dollar today buys much less than a dollar in 1935. Inflation is generally a deliberate goal for monetary authorities. For example, the Federal Reserve has adopted a policy of average inflation targeting which is exactly what the name suggests: Aiming for a specific inflation figure in an economy.

While we tend to understand inflation as an economic phenomenon, I wonder if the general idea can apply elsewhere. What about in language? In particular, is there such a thing as “inflation of the English language”?

If in economics inflation is a reduction in purchasing power, perhaps in language, inflation is a reduction in the strength of a word. I can think of two examples:

First, the word “amazing”. A European stereotype of Americans it that they are insincere and exaggerate their emotions. One culprit may be the tendency of (some) young Americans to describe every experience as “amazing”. They try a new ice cream flavour: Amazing! They download a fun iOS game: Amazing! They go for a 5-minute jog in the park: Amazing! Is everything really amazing, or are we reducing the strength of the word by overusing it? When we encounter an experience that may universally be seen as deserving the moniker “amazing”, can we even use that word anymore or has its meaning been diluted?

Second, the words “thank you” or “thanks” have seen a gradual erosion of meaning. While expressions of gratitude are commendable, it seems like we have dulled the edge of our words by thanking people for things that probably don’t require a “thank you”. I think of email messages where the sender automatically writes “thanks for your message”, even where they genuinely may not care about receiving the message (or indeed, may be hostile to it!). When we use the same word for an email message to a random recipient, as we would when expressing gratitude to a lifeguard who saved us from drowning (for example), is something lost?

I end with a quote from the inimitable Robin Williams.

I don’t think language was invented to woo women, but is there is a kernel of truth to the claim that certain language habits are the product of laziness? The inflation of certain English words has led to a proliferation of adverbs like “very”, “deeply” and “truly”. It is no longer enough to say “thank you”, but would be kinder to say “thank you very much”. Or an experience that was once “amazing” is now “truly amazing”. And so on. Is it dulling the edge of English words? Is this an example of language inflation? And if so, does it matter?