Twitter declared top English word of 2009
It seems as though Twitter really can do no wrong at the moment. 2009 has been the year of Twitter in many ways. Its popularity has increased massively, it entered the mainstream, grew up in terms of features, and evolved into a site where breaking news from citizen journalists rules the roost. And now Twitter has been declared the top word of 2009.
It’s that time of year again when the lists looking back over the past 12 months are released. We’re only just entering December but some organizations are keen and eager enough to reveal all already.
The Global Language Monitor analyzes the language and words used both in traditional media and on the Internet. Every year it produces a list of the top words, phrases, and names from the past 12 months. The last few years have seen some quite generic and bland words declared most-used: in 2006 it was Sustainable; in 2007 it was Hybrid; in 2008 it was Change. But this year is a little different.
The Top 15 Words Of 2009
1. Twitter
2. Obama
3. H1N1
4. Stimulus
5. Vampire
6. 2.0
7. Deficit
8. Hadron
9. Healthcare
10.Transparency
11.Outrage
12.Bonus
13.Unemployed
14.Foreclosure
15.Cartel
Twitter topping the list is intriguing because it represents an actual entity rather than a word bandied around as part of the Zeitgeist but not actually relating to any one thing. Beating Obama, the first black president of the U.S.A. and a man who has probably had more press than Jesus, is an astounding result.
That isn’t to say the result isn’t justified. Twitter has been absolutely everywhere, with celebrities such as Stephen Fry and Ashton Kutcher becoming addicted, and the traditional news media even starting to realize its potential.
Paul JJ Payack, President of The Global Language Monitor, said:
In a year dominated by world-shaking political events, a pandemic, the after effects of a financial tsunami and the death of a revered pop icon, the word Twitter stands above all the other words.
Twitter represents a new form of social interaction, where all communication is reduced to 140 characters. Being limited to strict formats did wonders for the sonnet and haiku. One wonders where this highly impractical word-limit will lead as the future unfolds.
Michael Jackson topped the phrases with King Of Pop making number one, while Obama beat him to be the top name of 2009. But Twitter should be feeling very smug with itself tonight – I can’t see Facebook, MySpace, Google, YouTube, Yahoo, or any other Web property on the list.
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