The Global Language Monitor released their predictions for the Top Words of 2012, following their list of the Top Words of 2011. Trends include end-of-world stories; Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge; China; the Olympics; and the US elections.
Based in Austin, Texas, the Global Language Monitor is a media analytics company that documents and studies cultural trends all over the world. It describes itself as the “intersection of technology and the word.” The words are taken from the English language, which has a total of 1.83 billion speakers (January 2012 estimate).
“The year 2012 looks to be a vibrant year for the English language with word creation again driven by events both scheduled and unanticipated. Typically there is an ‘end-of-the-world’ scenario every few years that impacts the English language; this year we will see no fewer than three including the Maya Apocalypse and the Solar Max,” said Paul JJ Payack, President and Chief Word Analyst of GLM, on the company’s website. ”Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, will compete with the London Olympics, the economic surge of China, various activities involving the CERN atom smasher, and the US presidential election for Top Word honors, though we always allow for word creation generated from unexpected events such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 or the Japanese ‘triple disaster’ of 2011.”
Last month, the company announced the Top Words of 2011, including “Occupy” as the Top Word, “Steve Jobs” the top name and “Arab Spring” the Top Phrase. It was the company’s twelfth global survey of the English language. To find out more about the top ranked words, phrases, and comments for 2012, visit the Global Language Monitor for more information.
