Webster's New World® College Dictionary Announces Top Five Candidates for 2008 Word of the Year
At the end of every year, the editors at Webster's New World review collected research and create a short list of words that have yet to appear in the dictionary but hold intrinsic linguistics qualities that merit consideration for entry into the Webster's New World lexicon.
Hoboken, NJ (PRWEB) November 21, 2008 -- Choosing the Word of the Year is an exercise that the editors and language researchers (called citation readers) of Webster's New World look forward to each year. "We survey the emerging English of the past year," says Editor in Chief Michael Agnes, "and choose one word or phrase that captures our imagination - whether with its intrinsic linguistic attributes or by the way it expresses how language reflects changing realities."
"In most cases," says Agnes, "the word chosen is a new one and thus hasn't yet found its way into the dictionary. As we do not try to predict the future of language change in English, the choice does not reflect an opinion that the term will eventually be found in the dictionary. In short, it's merely one that made us chuckle, think, reflect, or just shake our heads. It is a product of our language monitoring program, by which we collect examples of emerging new English - to the tune of 2,000 new examples per month. Our citation files now hold approximately 1.9 million such examples."
The Word of the Year will be selected by editors and researchers at Webster's New World, and announced by Agnes during a national radio satellite tour on December 1. In promotion of the announcement, NewWorldWord.com, a new website devoted to Word of the Year, features a poll that invites visitors to choose their favorite word from the following five contenders:
leisure sickness:
a purported syndrome, not universally recognized by psychologists, by which some people (typically characterized as workaholics) are more likely to report feeling ill during weekends and vacations than when working.
overshare:
to divulge excessive personal information, as in a blog or broadcast interview, prompting reactions ranging from alarmed discomfort to approval
cyberchondriac:
a hypochondriac who imagines that he or she has a particular disease based on medical information gleaned from the Internet
selective ignorance:
the practice of selectively ignoring distracting, irrelevant, or otherwise unnecessary information received, such as e-mails, news reports, etc.
youthanasia:
" … the controversial practice of performing a battery of age-defying medical procedures to end lifeless skin and wrinkles; advocated by some as a last-resort measure to put the chronically youth-obsessed out of their misery…Think of it as mercy lifting." --Armand Limnander, New York Times
NewWorldWord.com will also include informal etymologies, examples of usage, video illustrations, and information on the selection process.
Through more than five decades of language research, Webster's New World lexicographers have created a uniquely modern dictionary that helps you understand and use the language as no other dictionary can. With the most readable, precise, and up-to-date definitions, the dictionary also has reference sections that provide a wealth of information not found in any other college-level dictionary. Included are a full-color atlas of the world, rules of punctuation, geographical tables, and scientific and measurement charts. The rich history of our language is traced with the identification of Americanisms and with detailed etymologies, and the dictionary also boasts higher-quality paper that enhances readability and durability.
Selected by the Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and other leading newspapers as their official dictionary of choice, Webster's New World College Dictionary represents the finest linguistic scholarship. For more information on the lexicographical process behind the dictionary, Editor in Chief Mike Agnes is available for interviews.
Webster's New World® -- We Define Your World®
About Webster's New World®
The Webster's New World family of reference books has been "Defining Your World" for more than fifty years. From its initial mission to provide a commonsense, user-friendly dictionary specifically for American English, Webster's New World has now set the standard for clarity, ease of use, and reliability. Webster's New World is famous for providing a wealth of up-to-date and comprehensive references for the home, office, and classroom as well as pocket references for people on the go. For more information, visit wiley.com. Webster's New World is an imprint of Wiley.
About Wiley
Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., provides must-have content and services to customers worldwide. Its core businesses include scientific, technical, and medical journals, encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; professional and consumer books and subscription services; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley has publishing, marketing, and distribution centers in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb. Wiley's Internet site can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com
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