Top Ten Words for 2010 January 4, 2011
Posted by alwaysjan in Blogging, Food for Thought.Tags: Austerity, Gaslighting, Humor, Merriam- Webster, Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Merriam-Webster's Top 10 Words for 2010, Nonversation, Top Ten Words, Top User-Submitted Words for 2010
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I was at my favorite bookstore (and it wasn’t even raining!) when I saw a poster listing the Top 10 Words for 2010 – the first being “austerity.” Gee, who saw that coming? The Top 10 Words are (drumroll please):
1. austerity
2. pragmatic
3. moritorium
4. socialism
5. bigot
6. doppelganger
7. shellacking
8. ebullient
9. dissident
10 furtive
You can go to Merriam-Webster’s Top 10 Words for 2010 for definitions, uses, and lists from years past.
I was most pleased though that I knew all of the words on the list, not that I have much occasion to use these gems in casual conversation with children who still believe in the Tooth Fairy. I have to admit that until President Obama used “shellacking,” I’d never heard of that unless it was hobby-related. And “doppelganger?” How 2009 is that?
I love words and wordplay, so I had to go back and review words from previous years. Geez, there was a word from 2009 and I didn’t have a clue what it meant. It was like getting hit with a cold fish in the face. Just see if you can spot it, smarty pants. I’ll give you a hint – it’s not “furlough” cause I’ve already got five of those babies under my belt.
What I found way more fun though was Merriam-Webster’s Top 10 User Submitted Words beginning with “nonversation.” (The site is riddled with ads so hit Skip to Page on the top right. The Top 10 User Submitted Words are on the left hand side under the title “Nonversation.” You can hit Next to see all of these words.) “Talk about a nonversation!” is going to be one of my new buzz phrases. Though most are cyber-related, “gaslighting,” a word those who know a thing about Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) are on a first-name basis with, is on that list also. Finally!
I wouldn’t say that things are a changing as I write this, but look how much has changed since 2004!
Merriam-Webster’s #1 Word of the Year for 2004:
1. Blog (noun)
[short for Weblog] (1999) : a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer
planetjan 
Planetjan:
Would it be narcissistic of me to think that my post “Gaslighting – The Narcissist’s Game” had anything to do with the 7th spot on the Top Ten words list? I am glad that people are becoming more educated about this tactic of the N.
Elisse – That would be healthy narcissism on your part, as you only want the best for others. How ironic that this term has finally made the Top 10 after it’s been in our Top 10 for going on four years now. 🙂 Jan
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Yes, 5 years next week – but it took some time to understand how sadistic the abuse had been. I am very proud of that post.
ES
Hugs to you – enjoy your five more days of vacation.
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I knew all the words except “ebullient.” Such an alien word!
Shout – Ditto on “ebullient.” I find it easier to say “Beulah” than that one. I suppose I could just substitute. 🙂 Jan
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I was “ebullient” to see that “pragmatic” and “doppelganger” were on the list, but I’m going to have to go on an “austerity” program, possibly even instituting a full-blown “moratorium” to avoid their overuse.
I was tempted to link my “googleganger” post here, but didn’t want to get a “shellacking” for my “furtive” plug for my own blog — Actually not furtive, but blatant! 😉
Catherine – I can tell you were one of those students who write a story using ALL of the spelling words! Jan
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RE: Field Research: Obama, Art and Participatory Democracy
I’m a research fellow at the University of Copenhagen and am currently conducting research for a book project about the relationships between public and grassroots culture, elections, and the political economy surrounding Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. More specifically, my work focuses on the Obama poster art and “street” art movement and the ways visual communication is utilized as a form of participatory democracy and as a cultural outlet for building and sustaining political communities.
I’m contacting you because of your blog post about David Cordova’s Cholobama campaign art poster and was hoping you had his contact information as I’m interested in conducting an interview with him while on field study in the US this Spring. I would also be interested in speaking with you about your experience with the poster and the blog.
Apologies for contacting you in an unrelated comments thread.
I look forward to hearing back from you at your earliest convenience and appreciate your consideration.
Kind regards,
Stuart Noble
Faculty of the Humanities
Center for Transnational American Studies
University of Copenhagen
Stuart,
I’m happy to send you David’s contact info. If Europe ever defrosts and you come to sunny California (it’s been rainy California lately!), I’d be happy to meet with you. Jan
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Jan! Oh, I love this post. I’m a logophile myself, you see. My favorite words are combined ones like frenemy and flusterpated. I’ll have to think of a few more to share too. Happy New Year!
Janelle,
Oh, that’s what a “logophile” is? I’ve had a long day working with Legophiles. I also saw a list of 100 word/phrases that should go the way of 2010. One of them was “frenemy.” But when I saw WTF also on the same list, I lost interest. I’ve practically worn out those keys on my keyboard. Happy New Year to you too! Jan
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SO pleased that “ebullient” is on the list. Such a lovely word. Also pleased to have rediscovered your blog, which I had lost in the shuffle, somehow. Glad to have you back in my reader!
Anne – I read that “ebullient” made the list because it was used so frequently in reference to the rescue of the Chilean miners. I’m ebullient you’ve “rediscovered” my blog. 🙂 Jan
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