Vote for Word of the Year!

[Graeme]

Link: Macquarie Dictionary Word of the Year 2006

The Macquarie Dictionary is, for the first time, choosing a Word of the Year.

Nominations are from the new words selected for inclusion in the annual update of the Macquarie Dictionary Online in 2006.

There are a number of categories for which words have been nominated with the overall winner being selected by the Macquarie Dictionary Word of the Year Committee from those deemed most worthy in each category according to the votes of dictionary users. The categories are:

* General Interest

* Colloquialisms

* Specialist Terms

* The Political Scene

* Eating and Drinking

* Fashion

* Travel

* Technology

* The Environment

* Sport

* Health

There are five words nominated in each category. Visitors and subscribers should vote for the word which they think is the most valuable contribution to the English language in 2006 in each category.

Voting will take place during the first three weeks of January 2007 ending at midnight on Sunday 21 January.

The Macquarie Dictionary Word of the Year Committee:

Professor Gavin Brown, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney

Professor Stephen Garton, Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Sydney

Susan Butler, Publisher of the Macquarie Dictionary

This committee will decide the overall winner for the Macquarie Dictionary Word of the Year which will be announced in the last week of January 2007.

[Cole Parker]

Graeme:

I went through the entire list of "new" words being considered by the august committee assigned to this task. That took some doing. It was not easy. I applaud the committee for their efforts, while at the same time scoffing at them under my breath. Are they seriously undertaking this endeavor?

I couldn't decide if this was or wasn't a joke, but plowed on, showing great fortitude.

I couldn't, in good conscience, come up with a suitable word in each categroy to vote into any sort of reputable dictionary. Any dictionary that would include most of those words would not be any sort of reference book I'd want to use.

I was left, I'm sorry to say, trying to decide what one word in the entire list to submit as the grossest, most offensive, most politically incorrect and objectionable of all. I'll cast my vote for "Muffin Top."

Cole

[Graeme]

Hi, Cole,

The Macquarie Dictionary is a well known and respected organisation in Australia. It is generally held up as the repository of "Australian English".

My understanding is that they recognise that new terms and words appear in the English language and each year include new words that have been documented during the preceding year. For the first time they are looking for a "Word of the Year". I think it's partially tongue-in-cheek (it IS an Australian organisation, after all -- we like to think we have a sense of humour), but all of the words on the short list are legitimate additions to the dictionary based on common usage. The way I read it is that the committee will look at the top words in each category (as voted by the community) and will select the winning word from that short list.

As for the words on the list, cyberstalking is one of the words in the technology section. I would be surprised if there were any members here who have not heard the word used, but it's not in any dictionary. It is a 'new' word that has appeared recently, and the Macquarie is taking note of that fact.

As an aside, I made heavy use of the Macquarie Book of Slang when it was online to doublecheck my Australian colloquiums.

[sat8997]

I couldn't decide if this was or wasn't a joke...

My thought exactly so I decided to look at the possible entries from a humorous angle. Since Cole stole my top pick, I?ll shift my vote to ?Toe Cleavage?. Although I have to admit ?Administrivia? has this odd flow about it that I find captivating.

Sharon

[Cole Parker]

We've had "spaghettini" on our grocery shelves for years. I just looked it up on my favorite dictionary on-line source and it's listed in nine dictionaries. If it passes muster with the Austrailian crowd, it'll be ten!

Incidentally, if anyone is interested, I use OneLook.com as my main word reference. It's great. Not only can you use it to check word definitions, but there are several other features that are hugely useful for a writier, especially one like me who has advanced Alzheimers and raplidly diminishing word recall. This is just a wonderful source.

Cole

[Trab]

Cole. This

especially one like me who has advanced Alzheimers and raplidly diminishing word recall.

is nothing to joke about. Please give a serious response. Are you really having this trouble?

[Graeme]

Incidentally, if anyone is interested, I use OneLook.com as my main word reference. It's great. Not only can you use it to check word definitions, but there are several other features that are hugely useful for a writier, especially one like me who has advanced Alzheimers and raplidly diminishing word recall. This is just a wonderful source.

I use www.dictionary.com, which also includes a thesaurus. It has a lot of other features that I don't use, but others may find useful. It reports USA vs British variations, which is especially useful to me.

[Cole Parker]

Cole. This is nothing to joke about. Please give a serious response. Are you really having this trouble?

Oops! I thought that sounded jaunty enough that the meaning was clear. Didn't mean to be the least bit dismissive of anyone suffering from the real thing.

No, I'm not having that problem, or at least I hope I'm not. Once you reach your 60's you always wonder, though. My vocabulary seems to shrink daily. Surprisingly, to me at least, I do find that writing every day helps. When I write a lot, I have less problem bringing to mind the words I want to use. When I lay off for a week or so, I'm back to stopping every few minutes trying to remember the exact word that's lurking behind a layer of fog in my mind. But everyone I talk to that has reached my approximate grand age has the same problem.

Thanks for caring, Trab.

C

[Drewbie]

UrbanDictionary.com is also a good site for slang.

[DesDownunder]

But everyone I talk to that has reached my approximate grand age has the same problem.

Thanks for caring, Trab.

C

Yes, Cole, at 62 I can vouch for the lapse in memory and vocabulary effect. Writing and reading certainly help. So does a vitamin supplement along with a general amino acid complex supplement.

Recently I had a nasty experience of missing the keys I wanted to hit when typing. So instead of typing say the word, "many" it ended up as "anmu". The doctor wasn't concerned. Yeah Right!

So I did some quick research and found that Brahmi is supposed to to be of help in these kind of brain drain problems. There are other things like Ginkgo but they can react with Warfarin which I take.

My family experience with Alzheimer's indicates the following things (for me anyway) and although it might sound a bit funny I am quite serious as I saw the effect happen.

!. Do not watch TV daytime soap operas or mindless quiz shows after the age of forty. (habit forming that inhibits analytical thought processes.)

2. Keep active even if it is just for a 20 minute walk

3. Watch out for extremes in weather conditions avoid the heat with a wet towel around the neck and if you go out (driving in a car without air-conditioning) wear a baseball cap soaking wet.

Of course these are anecdotal references and observations within the circle of my family and friends.

I can not vouch their relevance in any medical fashion.

After following my own advice as above I have come to the conclusion that I can only vote for the word Emo.

But I like Affluenza and Administrivia as well, though I m not sure in what context.

If I had been consulted as to the choices of words to be voted on, I would have suggested "FemiNazi"

but I guess that is just plain politically incorrect of me.

Isn't aging fun?

[Cole Parker]

"Yes, Cole, at 62 I can vouch for the lapse in memory and vocabulary effect. Writing and reading certainly help. So does a vitamin supplement along with a general amino acid complex supplement."

If writing and reading help, I should be in good shape as that mostly what I do.

"Recently I had a nasty experience of missing the keys I wanted to hit when typing. So instead of typing say the word, "many" it ended up as "anmu". The doctor wasn't concerned. Yeah Right!"

You went to the doctor because you hit the wrong keys? I'd have to live in his office if I worried about that! I hit more wrong ones than right ones, and spend tons of time going back and fixing things. Of course, I do type fast. I'd hit fewer wrong keys otherwise, I'm sure. I don't worry about it. I have more important things to worry about than that, things like us increasing the number of troops in Iraq, whether the advances in gay rights that have been won in the past couple years will be whittled away during the next two year election run-up, and if taking twelve pills in the morning counts as having breakfast.

"My family experience with Alzheimer's indicates the following things (for me anyway) and although it might sound a bit funny I am quite serious as I saw the effect happen.

!. Do not watch TV daytime soap operas or mindless quiz shows after the age of forty. (habit forming that inhibits analytical thought processes.)

2. Keep active even if it is just for a 20 minute walk

3. Watch out for extremes in weather conditions avoid the heat with a wet towel around the neck and if you go out (driving in a car without air-conditioning) wear a baseball cap soaking wet. "

I think anyone who watches any TV during the day has already given in to mind numbness. It seems to be getting that way for nighttime TV, too. Probably you have better TV down there than we do up here. You'd almost have to.

I do keep active. I'm trying to lose weight and ride a bicycle an hour a day. I feel much better now than I did before I began that regimen a few months ago. I hate exercise for exercise's sake, but there's no question, being active is therapeutic.

A/C in cars in LA, where I live, is a must. Especially if you're caught in one of our quotidian traffic snarls and can't move enough to even get air flow through the windows. I think I'll skip the wet hat. If something had to drip down my neck, I'll take sweat over cold water.

"Isn't aging fun? "

Is that supposed to be an oxymoron? No, it isn't!!! But it's better than the alternative.

Cole

[DesDownunder]

Cole,

I should tell you I am a bit of a hypochondriac. However, I know the difference between mistyping and typing non-accidental gibberish. Why won't anyone believe me? Have you been talking to my doctor?

In addition to my hypochondria I also have to worry about world events and gay rights and...the list is endless. Woe is us.

Right you have made me feel a lot better...thanks Cole.

I can't afford a car with a/c and we just started our summer here where it is constantly approaching 100 degrees F. for days at a time. it is currently 90 degrees and it is only 6am. Believe me a wet hat can be the difference between life and death here. Our weather is very similar to LA I believe.

I too hate exercise for it's own sake, but I am doing some when it isn't too hot to go outdoors.

As for aging being better than the alternative, I don't mind being reincarnated provided I can skip childhood and go direct to puberty.

Oh great news I just typed this with only one mishap, I must be getting better. Hooray.

Cheers,

[Cole Parker]

"Cole,

I should tell you I am a bit of a hypochondriac. However, I know the difference between mistyping and typing non-accidental gibberish. Why won't anyone believe me? Have you been talking to my doctor? "

I believe! I believe! I just am going to advise you not to worry about it. Or try to treat it! It's a figment of your imagination. I hope. It's better to hope than worry, although worry does a better job with weight loss. Worry enough and you stop eating and so lose weight. If you just go around hoping all the time, you'll probably be too encouraged about everything and start eating too much. Maybe the answer is in a typo, which got us started with this mess. But let's try it. Instead of constantly hoping, try constantly hopping. You'll get your exercise, loose weight, improve your circulation and so make your brain work better, and perhaps even improve the work of your confused digits on your keyboard.

"In addition to my hypochondria I also have to worry about world events and gay rights and...the list is endless. Woe is us."

Sounds like more of this woeful worrying you love to engage in to me. Get a grip, man! The world is our oyster. Of course, I got food poisoning once eating oysters. I think I forgot to check for r's and ate one in June. Almost killed me. Sicker than a dog. But I don't want to think about it, running from both ends as I was, and you don't want to read about it.

"Right you have made me feel a lot better...thanks Cole."

Well, writing that last bit made me feel a lot worse, so we're even.

"I can't afford a car with a/c and we just started our summer here where it is constantly approaching 100 degrees F. for days at a time. it is currently 90 degrees and it is only 6am. Believe me a wet hat can be the difference between life and death here. Our weather is very similar to LA I believe."

If I can't travel here in an air conditioned car here, I don't travel. But I'd guess 98% of the cars here a air conditioner. It's almost inconceivable to have a car here without A/C. I moved here from Indiana. We didn't need A/C there. Well, we did, but only for about three months a year. Here we need it for 9 or 10, and then some days in the other 3 or 2. I quickly changed to a car that had A/C. Now I'll admit, buying a baseball cap and a bucket of water to soak it in is cheaper than buying A/C, but think of it this way: when you go to trade in your car with A/C or your cap and bucket, you'll get a lot more for the former than the latter.

"I too hate exercise for it's own sake, but I am doing some when it isn't too hot to go outdoors."

I ride my bicycle even if it's hot. I take a bottle of water with me. If you also cannot afford a bicycle and have to jog, I suggest you take a bottle of water with you as well as your wet towel around your neck and your wet hat on your head. I don't wet myself quite as thoroughly as you do before setting out, but then, American practices are different in these situations than Australian ones, I guess.

"As for aging being better than the alternative, I don't mind being reincarnated provided I can skip childhood and go direct to puberty."

Now that makes perfect sense. I too like to skip the veggy courses and go straight to the dessert.

Maybe thath's why I'm trying to lose weight!

Cole

[DesDownunder]

Ho there Cole,

You have me laughing my little head off. Thanks I needed those words of good sense.

As for losing weight, believe me, losing weight is not a good idea for me. If I get any thinner my fingers will get caught in the spaces between the keys on the keyboard.

Sorry to hear you had a run in with the oyster from hell. Now you know why I am a vegetarian. Of course I too prefer desert and ate a totally evil cream cake one day that was outside its use-by date, so I know the symptoms you describe.

My cars are usually so worn out by the time I get rid of them that usually I have to pay someone to take them away. Yes I do have a bottle of water I carry with me. I can't ride a bike because I don't have the balance mechanism for it and just fall off the damn thing. You will be pleased to know I don't worry about that.

So Overall I am going to take your wonderful advice and get a grip. Hope springs eternal as they say, (who the hell are 'they') and I really hope I can stop all this worrying.

As for being reincarnated there is this theory that you come back with the physical features of the last person you see before you die. So you might like to consider carrying a few photos of people you would like to look like so you can whip one out and stare at it at the appropriate moment. I am going to work on morphing photos of the hottest men on the planet for this reason.

[Cole Parker]

Des:

Now you've got me going. I never heard that you're supposed to come back as the last person you've seen. But wow, what an idea! This is a new cottage industry waiting to happen. Good looking people rent themselves out in hospices and hospital and in the backs of EMT vans. There might be lawsuits in the making as they'd need to be shoving some of these ugly doctors and homely last-rite-providers asside at the approprirate moment and families might object to that, but that could all be worked out, I imagine.

You also make me wonder, are good looking blokes happier than ones that look like me? Ordinary, you know? I don't think there's anything recorded to support that. Certainly, some of these guys are blissful, but some are degererate druggies looking for their next fix, and they're definitely not happy. I think simply wanting to look great in the next life might be a shallow wish, don't you? Without evidence to the contrary.

But then again, if you have the choice, I think going for pretty rather than ugly would get the bulk of the votes. Even if there is no assurance it would make a particle of difference, happinesswise.

If you can be either happy or unhappy while being either handsome or ugly, I guess most of us would chose handsome.

Cole

[DesDownunder]

Ah Cole,

What a great idea. Cute twinks in the back of an ambulance. Hmm, that might cause a heart attack in some patients of course. We'd have to be careful about that. We would also need a system as exists for organ donors. You know it could be recorded on your drivers licence: Last Face Preference: Twink or Hunk or Muscle Boy. I am sure you could think of other categories. The licence would also be the place to record the desire for displacement of last rites people for full access to the Last Face Provider. Hopefully that would do away with any litigation. The doctors could wear surgical masks that looked as near as possible to the preferred category.

As for the rest I am sure you know as well as I do that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Still I wouldn't mind being handsome and not shallow. Is that possible? I think the combination would lead to at least some moments of happiness.