Words to Live By

In its annual global search of the English language, the Global Language Monitor has selected spillcam as the top word of 2010. Spillcam of course originated after the British Petroleum oil spill in the Gulf. Each day until the oil leak was capped, spillcam was capable of transmitting real time footage of the immensity of the leak throughout the world placing BP’s PR in panic mode.

Vuvuzela, those most annoying, swarm of bees sounding plastic horns that were habitually being blown during the World Cup Soccer Tournament in South Africa made the list as did Guido and Guidette from that ever popular reality, waste of time television program, Jersey Shore.

Sarah Palin also made the list with her word refudiate; unofficially credited to Sarah by merging the words refute and repudiate. She actually used this word in a speech and defended its use by claiming Shakespeare too coined new words. (If I may borrow from Lloyd Bentsen) Well I have read Shakespeare. And I have seen Shakespeare on stage. Shakespeare is a personal friend of mine. Sarah Palin, you are no Shakespeare.

I seem to remember George Bush also taking liberties with the English language when he coined the word misunderestimate a few years back. Maybe it’s a Republican thing. Why just the other day, Oprah, while interviewing the Bushes, George W., George Herbert Walker and Barbara, asked if there would be another Bush in the White House. Barbara Bush said and I quote, “I think the people are all Bushed out.” There’s a word; Bushed with a capital B, meaning enough already!

Shellacking made the list. It was coined by President Obama as he tried to explain the thrashing that befell the democrats at the hands of the republicans in the midterm elections. Also making the list, simplexcity, the absurdity of simplifying complex ideas in order to make them easier to understand but in essence, complicating them further. Just think of anything requiring assembly from Ikea.