Socialism, Capitalism Most Looked-Up Words of 2012
Dueling fiscal philosophies had a high-profile in 2012. Socialism and capitalism were the two most looked-up words of the year, dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster announced on Wednesday.
The two words owe their heightened profile in large part, it seems, to the 2012 election cycle rhetoric. The big spikes in look-ups for both words cameduring healthcare arguments, in the days following each party’s political convention, and in the days after each of the four presidential debates, according to Merriam-Webster.
“It’s fascinating to see which language from a campaign or debate speech resonates with our users,” John M. Morse, President and Publisher at Merriam-Webster, said in a statement on Wednesday. “With socialism and capitalism, it’s clear that many people turned to the dictionary to help make sense of the commentary that often surrounds these words.”
The two words were often tied together in searches- meaning when someone looked up either socialism or capitalism, they were likely to then look-up the other word.
Lighter political rhetoric also seemed to sink into the cultural zeitgeist this year. Number eight on the list of the top ten most searched words of 2012 was malarkey- a word made famous by Joe Biden during the Vice Presidential debate.
Other popular words in 2012 were not as politically focused- touché, professionalism and schadenfreude- the German term that describes a pleasure derived from others misfortunes- made the top ten list as well.
Here’s the full list.
1.) socialism and capitalism
2.) touché
3.) bigot
4.) marriage
5.) democracy
6.) professionalism
7.) globalization
8.) malarkey
9.) schadenfreude
10.) meme
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/12/socialism-capitalism-most-looked-up-words-of-2012/
Yeah I read about that earlier. There must be allot of uneducated people to have to look them up.
Quoting muslimah:Yeah I read about that earlier. There must be allot of uneducated people to have to look them up.
I use my online dictionary frequently. I guess I'm uneducated.
Quoting wickedfiress:
I say malarkey all the time when talking to my kids!!! Lol
i'm totally full of malarkey
Quoting Veni.Vidi.Vici.:
Quoting muslimah:
Yeah I read about that earlier. There must be allot of uneducated people to have to look them up.
I use my online dictionary frequently. I guess I'm uneducated.
According to your postings and replies you don't seem to be uneducated but then again maybe that is because are looking stuff up. I actually thought you one of the smart ones of this group.
Quoting muslimah:
Quoting Veni.Vidi.Vici.:
Quoting muslimah:
Yeah I read about that earlier. There must be allot of uneducated people to have to look them up.
I use my online dictionary frequently. I guess I'm uneducated.
According to your postings and replies you don't seem to be uneducated but then again maybe that is because are looking stuff up. I actually thought you one of the smart ones of this group.
Your response was brash. I often look words up for clarification, proper spelling, synonyms etc. There is more than one reason to look a word up.
Quoting Veni.Vidi.Vici.:
Quoting muslimah:
Quoting Veni.Vidi.Vici.:
Quoting muslimah:
Yeah I read about that earlier. There must be allot of uneducated people to have to look them up.
I use my online dictionary frequently. I guess I'm uneducated.
According to your postings and replies you don't seem to be uneducated but then again maybe that is because are looking stuff up. I actually thought you one of the smart ones of this group.
Your response was brash. I often look words up for clarification, proper spelling, synonyms etc. There is more than one reason to look a word up.
You don't need to take offence. I was actually complimenting you and how you present yourself online here.
Quoting muslimah:
Quoting Veni.Vidi.Vici.:
Quoting muslimah:
Quoting Veni.Vidi.Vici.:
Quoting muslimah:
Yeah I read about that earlier. There must be allot of uneducated people to have to look them up.
I use my online dictionary frequently. I guess I'm uneducated.
According to your postings and replies you don't seem to be uneducated but then again maybe that is because are looking stuff up. I actually thought you one of the smart ones of this group.
Your response was brash. I often look words up for clarification, proper spelling, synonyms etc. There is more than one reason to look a word up.
You don't need to take offence. I was actually complimenting you and how you present yourself online here.
I'm not offended.
Quoting Veni.Vidi.Vici.:
Quoting muslimah:
Quoting Veni.Vidi.Vici.:
Quoting muslimah:
Quoting Veni.Vidi.Vici.:
Quoting muslimah:
Yeah I read about that earlier. There must be allot of uneducated people to have to look them up.
I use my online dictionary frequently. I guess I'm uneducated.
According to your postings and replies you don't seem to be uneducated but then again maybe that is because are looking stuff up. I actually thought you one of the smart ones of this group.
Your response was brash. I often look words up for clarification, proper spelling, synonyms etc. There is more than one reason to look a word up.
You don't need to take offence. I was actually complimenting you and how you present yourself online here.
I'm not offended.
Good because I meant no offence. You really do appear to be one of the smart one here.
and what "generation" are you?
Would you go topless if you could?
- _Kissy_
on Dec. 6, 2012 at 12:54 AM