This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8092549.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| 'Millionth English word' declared | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A US web monitoring firm has declared the millionth English word to be Web 2.0, a term for the latest generation of web products and services. | |
| Global Language Monitor (GLM) searches the internet for newly coined terms, and once a word or phrase has been used 25,000 times, it recognises it. | |
| GLM said Web 2.0 beat out the terms Jai ho, N00b and slumdog to take top spot. | |
| 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, but it can also track new words and expressions. | |
| Once a word has been used 25,000 times on social networking and other sites, GLM declares it be a new word. | |
| The terms Jai ho and slumdog originate from the hit movie Slumdog Millionaire, about India's slum dwellers. | |
| But N00b comes from the gaming community, the company said, explaining that it is used as a disparaging term to describe a neophyte in a particular game. | |
| It is also the "only mainstream English word that contains within itself two numerals", GLM said in a statement posted on its website. | |
| Landmark doubted | Landmark doubted |
| However lexicographers doubt GLM's claim, says BBC arts correspondent Lawrence Pollard. | |
| 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. | |
| 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, according to our correspondent. | |
| 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, our correspondent adds. | |
| 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: | Your comments: |
| No competition - 'flexecutive: an executive with flexible working hours'. John Shields, London, UK | 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 | 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'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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | "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 | 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 |