

As we wind down the last few days of 2011, already folks are thinking about its most seminal moments, images, ideas, thoughts and… words.

Being in the word business, this is fascinating to us, and our friends at News.com.au have commissioned a snap poll, asking for nominations for word of the year for 2011.

It’s interesting… here are the words they have suggested:

* Occupy

* Debt

* Minority

* Ear-Bashing

* Planking

* Winning

* Gestational Carrier

* Siri

Clearly, from reading this list of suggestions, there are people and events associated with these words. Few will forget the use of ‘ear-bashing’ by the President of the United States during his visit, and of course the originator of ‘winning’ needs neither an introduction nor further publicity.

For me it might be, ‘inspired’ due to all of the amazing people I have met this year, or ‘golden’ in view of some choice opportunites that have come to pass, or maybe just… George. Regular readers of this Blog will need no further explanation.

I would be interested to know which word sums up 2011 for you, and I wonder what words will be appropriate to sum up the new year that is about to start.

To participate in the News.com.au poll, click here

Late mail: Talk about having your finger on the pulse… as a neat corollary to this story, the Herald Sun just posted a story, sourced from the Plain English Foundation, that outlines Australia’s LEAST favourite NEW WORDS of the year, including:

* Inland Tsunami

* Fugitive Emissions

* Free to Roam

* Negative Good

To read the article in full click here. So, which words sum up 2011, and which ones are your own personal least faves, let me know?!

Yours in PR