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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Millionth English word 'looming' | Millionth English word 'looming' |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| A US company which monitors internet traffic predicts that the millionth new English word will be coined imminently. | A US company which monitors internet traffic predicts that the millionth new English word will be coined imminently. |
| Global Language Monitor searches for new words and once a word has been used 25,000 times, it recognises it. | Global Language Monitor searches for new words and once a word has been used 25,000 times, it recognises it. |
| By calculating that a new word is created in English every 98 minutes, it estimates that the millionth word will be recognised at 1022 GMT. | By calculating that a new word is created in English every 98 minutes, it estimates that the millionth word will be recognised at 1022 GMT. |
| However, traditional dictionary makers are casting doubt on the claim and the methods behind it. | However, traditional dictionary makers are casting doubt on the claim and the methods behind it. |
| GLM, based in Texas, makes its money telling organisations how often they are mentioned in new media, such as the internet. | GLM, based in Texas, makes its money telling organisations how often they are mentioned in new media, such as the internet. |
| What they can also do is search for newly coined words. | What they can also do is search for newly coined words. |
| Once a word has been used 25,000 times on social networking sites and such like, GLM declares it be a new word. | Once a word has been used 25,000 times on social networking sites and such like, GLM declares it be a new word. |
| Landmark doubted | Landmark doubted |
| However, lexicographers - dictionary professionals - doubt the GLM claim. | However, lexicographers - dictionary professionals - doubt the GLM claim. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| Dictionaries have tighter criteria about what constitutes a new word - for example, it has to be used over a certain period of time. | Dictionaries have tighter criteria about what constitutes a new word - for example, it has to be used over a certain period of time. |
| Lexicographers say the exact size of the English vocabulary is impossible to quantify, but if every technical term or obscure specialist word is accepted then we are already beyond one million. | Lexicographers say the exact size of the English vocabulary is impossible to quantify, but if every technical term or obscure specialist word is accepted then we are already beyond one million. |
| And if the inclusion of specialist slang is restricted, then there are possibly three quarters of a million words in English. | And if the inclusion of specialist slang is restricted, then there are possibly three quarters of a million words in English. |
| All of which is way beyond the 20-40,000 words a fluent speaker would use, or the few thousand you could get by with in English. | All of which is way beyond the 20-40,000 words a fluent speaker would use, or the few thousand you could get by with in English. |
| But with 1.5 billion people speaking some version of English, it is small wonder it is the fastest growing language in the world. | But with 1.5 billion people speaking some version of English, it is small wonder it is the fastest growing language in the world. |
| What's your favourite new word? What word best sums up these times? Send us your thoughts using the form below: | What's your favourite new word? What word best sums up these times? Send us your thoughts using the form below: |
| Your comments: | |
| No competition - 'flexecutive: an executive with flexible working hours'. John Shields, London, UK | |
| Favourite new word has to be RACKLE which means to scrape out the last contents of a bowl, from the French word Racler, to scrape. As for a word that best sums up these times, well in an age of cheap and nasty imports and the American ethos of built in obsolescence, it has to be SHODDYPaul Smith, Lyon, France | |
| I think `jai ho' is the best. Johny Hque, Dhaka, Bangladesh | |
| I'm trying to coin the expression "triple-yew", meaning the WWW at the start of web addresses, currently we are reduced to saying "double-yew double-yew double-yew" which seems ridiculously long. Clifford Marcus, Oxford, UK | |
| I claim 'Strawbety' Tasting very much of strawberries. As in 'this sweet is very strawbety' Ditto 'raspbety' for the same reason, but of raspberries. As in 'this mousse is deliciously raspbety'. Makes life a lot easier! Fruitfull Pete, England | |
| A new term that could be coined for it now would be "oily growth" since oil price inflation is what will keep the world from returning to prosperity more than any other factor, since producers are restricting supply before geology does it. Walter L. Johnson, Vancouver, WA, USA | |
| The whole idea is nonsense, perpetuated entirely for publicity reasons and with no scientific or lexicographical basis at all. You may as well stand in the middle of a snowstorm and try to predict when the millionth flake will fall! Stewart Holden, Association of British Scrabble Players | |
| My word of choice is Curmumfable, a mix of Cushty and comfortable. My son uses Dimferent. Its different but not as good. Ade, Cardiff | |
| "Mouse Potato" sums up how times have changed. So many people sitting in front of computers they had to invent a word to describe them. The art of personal engagement and decent conversation is a dying one. Social interaction in person is pivotal to any civilised society. We are losing this skill all to readily. Greg O'Leary, Liverpool, Merseyside | |
| Some years ago I read about the "galloping Macdonaldisation" of the world. It's a little out of date now, but still meaningful! Joanna Saunders, Twickenham, UK | |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |