Twitter has been named the top English word of 2009 in an annual survey conducted by a U.S.-based company monitoring global language trends.

The hybrid communications form – a mix of blogging and texting -- was followed by Obama, H1N1, Stimulus, and Vampire. For anyone interested in keeping up with the crop of new words which enter the English language on a daily basis, the Global Language Monitor website (www.languagemonitor.com) makes for fascinating reading.

According to the website the English language gains a new word every 98 minutes. And although one would expect new words to be adopted rapidly in the Internet-era, they on average take 29 years to make the transition from specialist to popular use.

The annual list also captures the Zeitgeist, providing an intriguing snapshot of political, social and economic trends. The top 15 words for 2009 reflect the impact of the global economic crisis. Deficit, stimulus, transparency, bonus and foreclosure are all in the top 15.

(pgallagher@ecdinsight.com)