Human Emotions (6)
c) Backpack words
Well, I think I know this one, so I'll keep the answer to myself - don't want to give
away any spoilers.
What I do want to know is if hanger is a real thing – or is it just something that's
been made up by grumpy people, like you?
Let's hear from Sophie Medlin, who is a lecturer in nutrition and dietetics at King's
College London.
Is hanger a real thing and where does the word come from?
We've long recognised that hunger leads to irritability - in science.
But the wonderful world of social media has merged the two words for us and now we know
it as hanger.
So, is hanger a real thing and where does she say the word comes from?
According to Medlin it is a real thing.
She says that science has recognised that hunger leads to irritability.
Irritability is a noun which means being easily annoyed, not in a good mood.
And she says that it was the wonderful world of social media that joined the two words
together.
She used the verb merge.
Merge, meaning join together.
I know social media is responsible for many things, but the word hangry actually appeared
in the 1990s – so a little before the arrival of social media.
But it's certainly true that social media has made it more prominent.
Me, right now, hashtag hangry!
Let's listen to that clip again.
We've long recognised that hunger leads to irritability - in science.
But the wonderful world of social media has merged the two words for us and now we know
it as hanger.
So now we know that hanger is a real thing, let's learn a bit more about it.
Why does it happen?
Why do we get angry when we are hungry?
Here's Sophie Medlin again.
As the blood sugars drop, we increase our cortisol and adrenalin – so our kind of
fight or flight hormones – and those have an impact on our brain and the neuropeptides
– the things that control our brain, the chemicals in our brain, the ones the trigger
for hunger are the same ones that trigger for anger and also for rage and impulsive
type behaviours.
So that's why you get that sort of same response.
So it's all to do with blood sugar, isn't it?
Yes, it seems so.
When we are hungry the level of sugar in our blood is lower and this causes an increase
in particular hormones.
Hormones are the chemicals we make in our bodies that control certain biological and
psychological functions.
The hormones released when we are hungry are the same as our fight or flight hormones.
They are the hormones that the body uses to prepare us to either fight or run away from
a dangerous situation.
When these hormones are increased, it can cause anger and rage.
Rage is another word for being very angry.
And when we are angry we can behave impulsively.
Impulsive behaviour is when we do things without thinking, without considering the consequences.
So when we are hungry, the same emotions can run through us.
We can be angry and make poor decisions.
And that is hanger.
Which brings us nicely to our quiz question.
What do we call words, like hanger, that are made by joining two different words together?
Now you said you knew the answer Dan?
I did!
What was it?
Portmanteau words.
And you are absolutely correct.
The answer is portmanteau words.
Congratulations if you knew that.
I did.
Alright then smarty pants.
No need to boast!
I can see that you're still a bit hangry Neil.
Yes, I'm hungry and that is making me angry!
But I think I can hold on to get through a review of the rest of today's vocabulary.
Well, we also had the noun irritability, meaning getting annoyed very easily, just like…
Don't, just don't.
Or I might just merge my fist with your face.
Ouch.
Yes, merge meaning join different things together.
I can see your fight or flight hormones are kicking in.
Those chemicals in the body that prepare us for aggression or escape.
I haven't quite reached rage yet.
This was another of our words, rage, and it means a state of being very, very angry.
Our last word was impulsive.
This is an adjective to describe when we do things without really thinking about them.
We just do them without any control and without thinking about the consequences.
Now I'm off, I'm starving.
I've got to eat before I do something impulsive.
That is it for this programme.
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Thank you for joining us and goodbye.
Bye!
