The top words of the decade

The Global Language Monitor, which uses a math formula to track the frequency of words and phrases in print and electronic media, has announced the top Words of the decade, as part of its annual global survey of the English language.

The top words were ‘global warming’, 9/11, and Obama, followed by bailout, evacuee, and derivative; Google, surge, chinglish, and tsunami followed. “Climate change” was the top phrase, while “Heroes” was the top name; bin-Laden was No. 2.

The words are culled from throughout the English-speaking world, which now numbers more than 1.58 billion speakers.

 

“Looking at the first decade of the 21st century in words is a sober, even somber, event.” said Paul JJ Payack, President of The Global Language Monitor. “For a decade that began with such joy and hope, the words chosen depict a far more complicated and in many ways, tragic time. Nevertheless, signs of hope and renewal can be found in the overall lists.”