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

Ben Zimmer posted these German-language words of the year to the American Dialect Society email list:

German WOTY: Finanzkrise = ‘financial crisis'
http://www.thelocal.de/society/20081211-16071.html

German youth WOTY: Gammelfleischparty = lit. 'spoiled meat party'
(gathering of people over 30)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/6157309.html

Austrian WOTY: Lebensmensch = 'special friend' (for closeted gay partner)
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/245728,haiders-sexuality-inspires-austrian-word-of-the-year–feature.html