English Hits the 1,000,000 Word Mark, Go Neologists!
According to the Global Language Monitor, “at the current pace with a new English-language word created about every 98 minutes, English will cross the Million Word Mark on June 10th, 2009, at 10:22 a.m. (Stratford-on Avon Time).” This is basically RIGHT NOW!!! And, as predicted, the 1,000,000th word mark was reached.
Neologisms, or the invention of new words, are popping up everywhere. We see this frequently in the modern world due to the rapid growth of technology and the creation of slangs. For example, does anyone reading this remember when a mouse was simply a small furry rodent that ate cheese? Or when “cool” actually meant not warm?
Interestingly enough as the world globalizes and the history of language dissipates, neologisms are becoming more prevalent around the globe. In his book, A Million Words and Counting, Paul J.J. Payack, president and chief word analyst at Global Language Monitor, discusses how Global English is rewriting the World.
The Global Language Monitor methodology to count words uses super computers and detailed calculations in order to predict the number of words that exist in the English language today. They actually say that 1,000,000 is quite a conservative number and there are probably quite a few more.
In order to be included in the codex of the English language, words must be cited a minimum of 25,000 times in media, literature, etc. The last 15 words to be added to the global dictionary are:
Web 2.0 (1,000,000): The next generation of web products and services, coming soon to a browser near you.
Jai Ho! (999,999): The Hindi phrase signifying the joy of victory, used as an exclamation, sometimes rendered as “It is accomplished”. Achieved English-language popularity through the multiple Academy Award Winning film Slumdog Millionaire.
N00b (999,998): From the Gamer Community, a neophyte in playing a particular game; used as a disparaging term.
Slumdog (999,997): a formerly disparaging, now often endearing, comment upon those residing in the slums of India.
Cloud Computing (999,996): The ‘cloud’ has been technical jargon for the Internet for many years. It is now passing into more general usage.
Carbon Neutral (999,995): One of the many phrases relating to the effort to stem climate change.
Slow Food (999,994): Food other than the fast-food variety hopefully produced locally (locavores).
Octomom (999,993): The media phenomenon relating to the travails of the mother of the octuplets.
Greenwashing (999,992): Re-branding an old, often inferior, product as environmentally friendly.
Sexting (999,991): Sending email (or text messages) with sexual content.
Shovel Ready (999,990): Projects are ready to begin immediately upon the release of federal stimulus funds.
Defriend (999,989): Social networking terminology for cutting the connection with a formal friend.
Chengguan (999,988): Urban management officers, a cross between mayors, sheriff, and city managers.
Recessionista (999,987): Fashion conscious who use the global economic restructuring to their financial benefit.
Zombie Banks (999,986): Banks that would be dead if not for government intervention and cash infusion.
In addition, the 1,000,001st word is Financial Tsunami, meaning the global financial restructuring that seemingly swept out of nowhere, wiping out trillions of dollars of assets, in a matter of months.
Happy Wording!
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