Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Words of the Year 2008. Any organi{s/z}ation with any tangential relation words seems to make Word of the Year pronouncements these days (or these years, at least). I believe there is a correlation between how early the pronouncements are made and whether the organi{s/z}ation is trying to sell you something. The American Dialect Society wait(s) until January (when they have their annual meeting). And that is as it should be–one needs some perspective on the year in order to evaluate its words. […] I have nothing to sell you, but I’m going to give you the SbaCL words of the year a little early this year–just to make sure that I get them out at all while a horrible deadline, not to mention a trip to the States and winter holidays and birthdays come (chiefly AmE) careening (=careering) toward(s) me. Words of the Year will be my airbag.