What does it say about the state of our country when Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year for 2008 is “bailout”? Defined as “a rescue from financial distress”, the word received the most queries on the company’s website.
Others in the Top 10 aren’t any more optimistic:
2. vet
3. socialism
4. maverick
5. bipartisan
6. trepidation
7. precipice
8. rogue
9. misogyny
10. turmoil
Wait, what about “hope” and “change”? I guess that’s next year, followed closely by “disillusioned” and “disappointed”.
December 4, 2008, 9:53 pm
Very interesting indeed. Besides the negative aspect of what it says about the state of our country, it also says something about the sensationalism of the media that repeat these words over and over. And, hopefully, it says something about a renewed interest in politics. If you're interested in reflecting more upon the role of politics on language change you should check out a recent post of mine about it.