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February 11, 2006
If this milestone is actually going to get global media attention, then please, let it be santorum
From today's Globe and Mail:
Spreading the (English) wordINGRID PERITZ
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
It's a mighty milestone for something that's 1,500 years old and shows no sign of old age. Some time this year, the English language will gain its millionth word.
At least that's the calculation of Paul Payack, a Harvard-educated executive and language lover who says English has reached precisely 986,120 words and counting.
What will the millionth word be? Not bling-bling (flashy jewellery) or CrackBerry (nickname of the addictive BlackBerry), not podcast (a Web feed) or misunderestimate (a malapropism from U.S. President George W. Bush). Those terms, though all relatively new, have already become fixtures in the ever-expanding English lexicon.
Instead, the millionth entry will come from the flood of new words entering the English language. Perhaps it will be a word in Chinglish (a Chinese-English hybrid) or Hinglish (Hindi-English), from hip-hop or Web jargon, in any of the myriad new expressions that explain why English is the global powerhouse it is today. . .
Posted by jodi at February 11, 2006 02:03 PM | categories: dumbass
Comments
Several years ago, a friend and a group of her friends were determined to bring Santorum into the venacular. It seems that it is working. A different friend worked for Santorum (she really needed a job), and said that it was complete hell.
Posted by: Gina at February 11, 2006 07:38 PM
I'm pushing for one of the word verification jumbles that Blogger uses, like "qzytuplo" or something*.
(OK, I made that up. But if the millionth word really IS qzytuplo, remember that you read it here first.)
*Every new word needs a definition, so this one means, "the fake shutter click sound made by a cameraphone". Hey, it's as good as anything else...
Posted by: NWJR at February 12, 2006 02:16 PM
I thought English was a global powerhouse because I speak it. Oh well.
Posted by: Fi at February 13, 2006 06:51 AM
Hi Jodi,
I should have been more careful. I never got along with the popular girls. If everyone likes Mariah, I should have been wary. My defences were weak when I showed my daughter, who immediately wanted one. The softest yarn I could think of was Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. Another problem- stretching etc. I knit her a size too small to compensate for that and my loose knitting. I loved the pattern!! As if she were two projects, the simple knitting for travelling and the thoughtful cabling of the sleeves so my brain didn't turn to mush. Well, in blocking, she grew two sizes. Serves me right for trying to be friends with the popular girl. So what did I do? What I should have done to Lisa in grade 8. I threw her into a hot wash and full dryer cycle. Ha ha! I now have a gorgeous cabled hoodie that I can wash and dry freely, and a 13 year old daughter who thinks I might know something about clothes. Thank-you so much for your brilliant design and your great blog.
Posted by: Angie at February 13, 2006 12:41 PM
Hope your Olympic event is going nicely.
Hope you are well.
:)
Posted by: Micky at February 13, 2006 07:26 PM