Greetings STARFLEET,

In light of recent events, there will be a series addressing how language works with IDIC. IDIC is short for Infinite Diversity, Infinite Combination, and it’s what STARFLEET lives by. We want all members to feel comfortable at events, the ship level, and the fleet level.

For our first subject, we’ll be discussing why language changes over time. Language shift is a natural occurrence in every culture. At one point, many of the words used in everyday conversation today did not exist.

Take email for example. The first recognized email was sent around 1971 (though sources disagree). Once it became widely used, the term email entered the English language. Words entering the language happens regularly, and often starts with young people.

The same can be said for words leaving the language. At one point, the language in a Shakespeare play was normal. Now, most of us do not use ‘thee,’ and the words in those plays that are the same today have entirely different meanings.

Language shift does not simply add or subtract words. Sometimes, words are redefined when a group rises to prominence. An example of this is the appropriateness of saying ‘Indian’ in the United States when referring to First Nations or Indigenous people.

The glory of STARFLEET is that we have members who remember when television entered mass production and members who were part of the advent of yeet. This diversity is what makes us great as an organization.

Rather than scoffing at new words, let’s embrace them all. While we may not know which words will still be in use in 100 years, embracing these changes helps us understand the world around us. It’s a positive for all of us.

Let’s boldly go to the future, STARFLEET.