http://www.americandialect.org...ar-PRESS-RELEASE.pdf

Hat tip to Lingua Franca.

My choice would be in automobile ads where a low monthly price is mentioned but only (in a softer voice) "to well-qualified buyers."

Isn't that the most stupid word of the year? And, while I guess there were some occupiers in other countries, it really is an American word. Do they think only Americans speak English?

I did find some of the others fun, though. For example: "kardash" - unit of measurement consisting of 72 days, after the short-lived marriage of Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries. Of course that's an American word, too. I doubt other countries have heard about the Kardashians.

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Do they think only Americans speak English?

They are the American Dialect Society.

Isn't that the most stupid word of the year?

I think all of these WOTY writeups are banal if not excessively silly.

SO do I. It doesn't mean I can't chuckle at them though. I like a lot of things that are banal and excessively silly.

quote:

I like a lot of things that are banal and excessively silly.

So do I. For example, most of my TV viewing is of that kind as I'm in no mood to exercise my brain when I'm slumped on the couch after dinner. Of course, it can be argued that most TV offerings are banal and excessively silly anyway...

So do I.

Actually, I do, too, but I don't get excessively worked up when somebody points out their banality or silliness. Say I have a guilty pleasure in some Z movie or third-rung TV show. I wouldn't go find a film arts forum and start arguing there that the film or show in question is the best thing since sliced bread. (I leave that sort of thing to the wicked old codgers who enjoy stirring up the septic tank to raise a trolling stink.)

quote:

They are the American Dialect Society.

Good point. Leave it to arnie!

However, in all fairness, "squeezed middle" was the OED word of the year, and "occupy" was mentioned as well. Squeezing the middle class has been a prominent issue in the U.S. recently.