澳大利亚作家尼基·巴罗克劳近日撰文评论当代英语中"around"一词日益取代传统"about"的现象。[1] 这一语言趋势通过澳大利亚廉政公署听证会、广播节目和新闻采访等多个公开场合得以体现，反映了现代表达变得愈加模糊和间接的问题。[1]
对于"around"的流行原因，美国作家本·亚戈达在研究中追溯到1987年心理学家使用的"around weight issues"这一表达。[1] 亚戈达解释称，"around"之所以获得青睐，在于它"给了一种很好的、有形的感觉，让关切从各个不同角度作用于该话题"。[1]
Australian writer Nicki Barraclough has criticized the proliferation of the word "around" in contemporary English, noting how it increasingly displaces the traditional term "about."[1] The shift reflects a broader tendency toward vaguer, less direct communication in modern discourse.[1]
The phenomenon is not entirely recent.[1] American writer Ben Yagoda identified the pattern more than a decade ago, tracing psychological usage such as "around weight issues" back to 1987.[1] Yagoda explained that "around" gained traction because it "gives a nice, tangible sense that the concern is working on the topic from lots of different angles."[1] Barraclough illustrates the issue through examples drawn from ICAC hearings, radio broadcasts, and news interviews, demonstrating how this linguistic trend has permeated public discourse.[1] The prevalence of "around" over "about" stands in contrast to classical usage; Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" exemplifies the enduring precision of the latter term.[1]