atw: FW: MACQUARIE WORD OF THE YEAR 2008 IS...

Hi austechies,

 

The logophiles amongst us might be interested in the appended message.

 

Cheers

 

 

Geoffrey Marnell

Principal Consultant

Abelard Consulting Pty Ltd

T: +61 3 9596 3456

F: +61 3 9596 3625

W:  <http://www.abelard.com.au> www.abelard.com.au

  _____  

From: Kate.Nash@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Kate.Nash@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 12:28 PM
To: Kate.Nash@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: MACQUARIE WORD OF THE YEAR 2008 IS...

 


And the winner is . 

toxic debt 

Macquarie Dictionary announces Word of the Year 2008 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE on WEDNESDAY 4H FEBRUARY 2009 

Macquarie Dictionary has announced toxic debt as the Word of the Year 2008
from the new words selected for inclusion in the annual update of the
Macquarie Dictionary Online. 

There were thousands of votes cast in the user survey which closed on
Saturday 31st January 2009. Go to   <http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/>
www.macquariedictionary.com.au for more information. 

The Macquarie Dictionary Word of the Year Committee comprises: 

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney, Dr Michael Spence 
Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Sydney, Professor Stephen
Garton 
Publisher of the Macquarie Dictionary, Susan Butler. 
renowned Australian poet, Les Murray 

The Committee's choice of Word of the Year for 2008: 

toxic debt 
noun debt which, although initially acquired as a legitimate business
transaction, proves subsequently to be financially worthless, as the
subprime loans which precipitated the GFC. 

"The committee, in the course of its review of the words that had been added
to the Macquarie Dictionary, considered the important events of 2008. The
concern with the environment was an obvious issue and there were many words
reflecting this, waterfootprint having considerable appeal. But the event of
2008 which overshadows all our lives was the GFC, itself a term now added to
the lexicon. In this category toxic debt was thought to be the root cause,
the lingering blight on our lives, and in addition it had, as a lexical
creation, a visceral impact. It needed now explanation but said it all." 
- Sue Butler, Publisher - Macquarie Dictionary 

The Committee would like to give honourable mention to: 

bromance 
noun Colloquial a non-sexual but intense friendship between two males. [bro
+ (ro)mance1] 

textaholic 
noun Colloquial someone who sends an excessive number of text messages. 

guerilla gardener 
noun a person who plants gardens in areas controlled by councils or other
organisations but neglected by them in terms of vegetation, as nature
strips, roundabouts, council-maintained gardens, etc. Also, guerrilla
gardener. 

lawfare 
noun the use of international law by a country to attack or criticise
another country, especially a superior military power, on moral grounds,
that is, by accusing it of having violated international law.
[(international) law + (war)fare] 

flashpacker 
noun Colloquial a backpacker who travels in relative luxury. [flash(y) +
(back)packer] 

The People's Choice Award goes to. flashpacker 

For the full list of nominated words and their definitions, go to
<http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/> www.macquariedictionary.com.au 

For further information or an interview with Macquarie publisher Susan
Butler, please contact Kate Nash on (02) 9285 9113 or 0406 997 647 or email
<mailto:kate.nash@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> kate.nash@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 



Kate Nash
Non-Fiction Publicist
Pan Macmillan Australia
p: 02 9285 9113 / m: 0406 997 647
e:  <mailto:kate.nash@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> kate.nash@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
w:  <http://www.panmacmillan.com.au/> http://www.panmacmillan.com.au/ 

Macquarie DictionaryJOIN the 'Word of the Year' Facebook Group!
 <http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=633091252&k=Z5EY53UYUZ5CUCEDXD66R3Y>
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=633091252&k=Z5EY53UYUZ5CUCEDXD66R3Y 
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