Not more business buzz words?

Love to hate new words? Or do new words help describe the current trends across society?

Whatever your views, Macquarie Dictionary has asked Australians to vote for the word of the year – that is the most valuable contribution to the English language in 2007.

Some examples include “Chindia”, where China and India are considered together as a unit – a phase not long for this world as it is an unlikely coupling brought about by economic circumstances.

“Password fatigue” – frustration reached by having too many passwords to remember – is definitely more useful. And women around the world will love the addition of “man flu” – a minor cold contracted by a man who exaggerates the symptoms enormously.

Here are the business nominations:

Advergaming

Noun The marketing strategy of using video games in which products, brands, logos etc are placed in the game context to build familiarity with them. [adver(tising) + (video) gaming]

Astrovertisement

Noun An advertisement fashioned on the earth’s surface, of such a size that it can be picked up by satellite imaging.

Credit card tart

Noun Colloquial A credit-card holder who moves from provider to provider, transferring a loan from one account to another at a similar low rate of interest when the agreed period of the first account is about to expire. Also, card tart, rate tart.

Glass cliff

Noun The phenomenon whereby individuals who belong to groups that are not well represented in leadership positions, such as women, are more likely to be found in positions that entail a greater than usual risk of failure. [glass (ceiling) + cliff]

Infomania

Noun The tendency to give immediate attention to incoming messages such as email, text messages etc, resulting in constant distraction and a corresponding drop in the recipient’s attention levels and work performance. [info(rmation) + -mania]
–infomaniac noun –infomaniacal adjective

What do you think? Any new business words you have heard in 2007 that you love to hate? Have you got a new word? Send in your views and ideas to feedback@smartcompany.com.au and we’ll publish the best.