Malala Top Name, Apocalypse Top Word Of 2012

"These included Apocalypse, Bak'tun, Frankenstorm, Global Warming/Climate Change, God Particle, Rogue Nukes, Solar Max, Near-Earth Asteroid. Media examples include the Mayan apocalypse frenzy in Russia, the U.S. Presidential elections (Obamageddon, Romneygeddon), the threatened dissolution of the common currency in Europe (Eurogeddon), to the call for the UN to implement an 'Armageddon-type' policy to address previously undetected space rocks hurtling toward earth.

"Our top words, phrases and names this year represent some five continents, which continues to confirm the ever-expanding nature of the English language," he says.

Apocalyptic terms are combination or 'portmanteau' words linking a root word with 'apocalypse' such as the Snowpocalypse in the Washington DC area several years ago mentioned by Obama. Apocalypse, itself, can be traced to the ancient Greek word apokalyptein meaning to 'uncover, restore, reveal or disclose'.

The rankings were based on actual word usage throughout the English-speaking world, which now numbers more than 1.83 billion people.

According to GLM, to qualify for these lists, the words, names, and phrases must be found globally, have a minimum of 25,000 citations and the requisite 'depth' and 'breadth' of usage. Depth is defined as appearing in various forms of media; breadth that they must appear world-over, not limited to a particular profession or social group or geography.

GLM employs its NarrativeTracker technologies for global Internet and social media analysis. NarrativeTracker is based on global discourse, providing a real-time, accurate picture about any topic, at any point in time. It analyses the Internet, blogosphere, the top 275,000 print and electronic global media, as well as new social media sources as they emerge.

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