Spillcam, Vuvuzela and the name of Chinese leader Hu Jintao were among the top words on everybody’s lips in 2010, according to the Global Language Monitor.
“Our top words this year come from an environmental disaster, the World Cup, political malapropisms, new senses to ancient words, a booming economic colossus, and a heroic rescue that captivated the world for days on end,” said Paul JJ Payack, President of the Global Language Monitor on their website. “This is fitting for a relentlessly growing global language that is being taken up by thousands of new speakers each and every day.”
The Global Language Monitor is an Austin, Texas based media analytics company that documents, analyses and tracks trends in language all over the world with an emphasis on Global English.
Here are some of the words that made the top words, names and phrases for 2010.
Spillcam: The BP Spillcam became a household phrase as it instantly broadcasted live video footage of the ruptured oil well in the Gulf of Mexico earlier this year much to the dismay of environmentalists, BP’s PR staff and the U.S. President.
Vuvuzela: These brightly coloured plastic horns with a droning sound became the hallmark of the South African World Cup soccer tournament. They have since shown up at all sorts of sporting events including Merritt’s own Centennials hockey games.
Refudiate: A combination of refute and repudiate coined by U.S. politician Sarah Palin possibly by accident on Twitter. Palin argued that English was a living language and that Shakespeare liked to coin new words too.
Snowmageddon and (Snowpocalypse): Pormanteau words linking snow with apocalypse and armageddon, used to describe the record snowfalls on the East Coast and Northern Europe last year.
The Great Recession: The media term frequently used to describe the on-going global economic restructuring.
Teachable Moment: Turning any undesirable outcome into a positive opportunity by using it as an object lesson. Unfortunately, there were a plethora of teachable moments in the first year of the new decade.
Ambush Marketing: Cashing in at an event by taking on the appearance of a sponsor of the event. Most obviously displayed at the Vancouver Winter Olympics and South Africa’s World Cup 2010.
Climate Change (and Global Warming): The number one phrase for the first decade of the 21st Century starts the second decade near the top of the list.
Hu: President Hu Jintao, paramount leader of China. Rise of China was the No. 1 story of the first decade of the 21st century; now Hu begins the second decade in the top spot for names.
IPad: With over eight million sold in a matter of months, the IPad is now a name on everybody’s lips. The Language Monitor even points out that the IPad tests better than Steve Jobs himself.
Chilean Coal Miners: Earlier this year the world watched the ordeal and heroic rescue of 33 Chilean miners trapped deep in a coal mine. Theirs is possibly the most inspiring story of the year.
Pop singer Lady Gaga, future princess Kate Middleton and 3D (as in movies) also made the 2010 list of words.