美国知名网络词典yourDictionary.com (YDC)于2004年12月26日公布了通过网络调查评选出"2004年度美国流行英语词汇"(the Top Word of 2004),今年特别增加了数字和色彩类流行词汇。词汇共分八大类别,包括 the Top Words, Names, Phrases, Numbers, California YouthSpeak, Internet, Sports-related, and Color-related Words, as well as the Top Words in Pop Music and the Most Frequently Spoken Word On The Planet。.这些上榜样词汇突出地反映出了美国及与世界大事件,如与美国大选相关的two Americas（副总统候选人爱德华兹表述美国贫富差距的用语）,Flip-flop/flopping（(布什嘲笑克里对伊拉克战争的观点变化太快）,Red States / Blue States（美国大选各州投票支持率分别用该两种颜色代表两政党）,Fahrenheit¹(华氏9/11)等,与伊拉克及乌克兰相关的词汇同样榜上有名,如1000+(伊拉克战争中美国士兵伤亡人数), orange(乌克兰尤先科发动的橙色革命)等。
　　Top Ten Words of 2004

　　1. inCivility

　　A year characterized by the inCivil War, where the shrillness² of political discourse³ (dis-coarse) has risen (or descended⁴ to) the highest levels in memory.

　　2. Red States / Blue States

　　A dangerously deep split or just the simplest way of cutting an amazingly complex demographic pie.

　　3. Blogosphere

　　The realm of the ‘web log’ or ‘blog’’. Bloggers taken on a prominent role in vetting⁵ the mainstream⁶ media.

　　4. Flip-flop/flopping

　　Whether in reality or in myth, the concept helped to torpedo⁷ the Kerry campaign.

　　5. Esrever

　　That's `reverse' backwards<sup>8</sup>, for the Red Sox who finally 'reversed the curse` of the Bambino and won the World Series after 87 years.

　　6. Fahrenheit

　　9/11 that is. Evidently, Moore passed on the more Euro-centric ‘Celsius 488’.

　　7. iPod

　　Another product-related verb such as 'to google' or 'to tivo'.

　　8. IM

　　In 2004 Instant Messaging became a way of life, even in the corporate⁹ world.

　　9. Liberal

　　Progressive, please.

　　10. Eurosceptic

　　Those in the EU who think the strength of Europe was in its vigorous diversity.

　　Bonus Word: Pajamahadeen

　　Those bloggers who have taken a prominent role in vetting (or ensuring the accuracy) of mainstream media news coverage¹⁰. (Origin: Bloggers supposedly work in their bathrobes.)

　　Top Ten Names

　　1. Dubya Rove (W. and Karl Rove)

　　An indomitable team that plowed¹¹ to victory.

　　2. Mel (Gibson) (Michael) Moore

　　Both filmmakers set out to tackle sacrosanct¹² subjects and both succeeded beyond all expectations.

　　3. Saddam Hussein

　　Crawled his way out of a Spider Hole and spent ’04 holed away.

　　4. John Kerry

　　Another Liberal from Massachusetts meets his fate in one-time Democratic strongholds.

　　5. Vladimir Putin

　　Consolidating¹³ power at an ever quickening pace.

　　6. Howard Dean

　　In the popular mind, the ‘I have a scream’ speech put an end to his prospects¹⁴ though it occurred AFTER he lost Iowa.

　　7. Martha Stewart

　　Camp Cupcake’s No. 1 detainee.

　　8. Ahh-nold

　　The Governator remains¹⁵ in the news with his girlie-men characterization of political foes¹⁶

　　9. Janet Jackson

　　Who won the Super Bowl?

　　10. Yushchenko

　　Leader of the ‘Orange Revolution’ in the Ukraine who survived alleged¹⁷ dioxin assassination¹⁸ attempt.

 

上一篇：美国人常犯的两个美语错误 下一篇：不断改进，锻造地道英语句子