h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

GENUINE BETTER THAN MADE UP

From Newsnight:

"At 10.22 BST on Wednesday 10 June logophiles everywhere will be celebrating the creation of the millionth English-language word - that's according to online language website Global Language Monitor, which tracks additions to our vocabulary.

In order to make it onto the GLM list a word has to have at least 25,000 citations across a wide range of global media sources - something which the group's chief word analyst Paul Payack says happens about every hour and a half.

GLM announced their list of contenders for the millionth word title at the end of May - they include words from Hindi and Chinese, which thanks to globalisation have become popular with English speakers, words related to the economic crisis, latest fashion trends, and news stories.

Check out just a few of them here:

Zombie Banks - banks that would be dead if not for government intervention and cash infusion;

Jai Ho! - from the Hindi for "it is accomplished", achieved English-language popularity through the multi-Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire;

Recessionista - a fashion conscious person who uses the global economic restructuring to their financial benefit;

E-vampire - appliances and machines on standby-mode, which continually use electrical energy while they "sleep";

Wonderstar - as in Britain's Got Talent finalist Susan Boyle, an overnight sensation, exceeding all reasonable expectations.

But we want to hear what new words you think deserve a mention, [SO DO I]. Leave your ideas below..."


THIS IS HARD. But we could start with Hootoo neologisms, like Prolly = probably (I like this one) and - Zaphodistas - followers of Zaphod? - and Hootoo itself.

Let's have a go at neologisms - Hootoo and/or (would that itself count? Is it new enough?) others - or comments about them - don't worry about 25,000 etc..Just being in use will do. And/or comments on their meanings - NB - and perhaps provenances too (ie where you first heard it). Et Cetera. And remember - if we fail miserably we can always terminate our contract with God or Stephen Hawking or whoever!(ie shoot ourselves)

Jabs

GENUINE BETTER THAN MADE UP

h2g2 researchers etc = Hutoian's (not a nomadic tribe)

Thanks Prof.

Here's a new word already in use:

Google, used as a verb - to search online with Google ---"I'll Google it and see what I can find". If you'd said that as recently as perhaps 5 to 7 years ago, no-one would have known what the f- you meant.

Any more?

Jab

I'll try and think of some!

A clerk told me I was "styling" i.e. dressing sharp. Would that count?

Hmmmm, what about "steam punk". That's a very popular new fad.

Ellen: Post 4 is just what we want. Also, I don't know what steam punk means, so it must be another one.

Well done! It isn't easy.

[now can you tell me what it means please?]




Jabs

Hi Jabs, happy to provide a definition. "Steam punk" is a movement of design that emphasizes retro elements, like steam engines. I will try and find you some good links.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25549351&ref=sr_gallery_2&&ga_search_query=steampunk&ga_search_type=tag_title&ga_page=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

That's some steampunk jewelry.

http://www.thisnext.com/item/B0C45FD4/CF30E958/Steampunk-R2D2-on-deviantART

That's a steampunk R2D2.

http://images.google.com/images?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=steampunk+computer&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=E00vSq7sIYHAyQWR95H5Cw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title

Steampunk computers. You get the idea.

And what about Twitter as a verb? I've never tried Twitter, but apparently you can only post short messages?

Okay, here's another definition of steampunk: it's the combination of modern technology with Victorian design.

Twitter - yes, of course!

What about the word I get the blame for: lilitis


The cause of all your typo's

Here are some relatively new words:

Yuppy - "young urban professional" or young upwardly-mobile professional"
Nimby - Not in my back yard
DINKs - Dual incomes no kids yet
Scuppie - Socially conscious upwardly mobile person

does "yikeser's" count

Yup. Good, good, all recent words.

Jabs

when in my 20's(many moons ago) I made a word up named "pranak" and used it in a swearword type set up, my mates at first couldn't follow, but after a short while, so not wanting to look err dim(not knowing it's meaning)they started using it in the same context

leading sheep eh!

Always had you down as a bit of a pranak, actually...


Jabs

catching ain't it

Can't stand the terms - "art industry", or "sex industry" or "art-work.'