Webster dictionary declares 'Crackberry' its Word of the Year

New Orleans CityBusiness, Nov 20, 2006 by Tommy Santora

When Webster's New World College Dictionary Editor in Chief Michael Agnes sat down with his staff to select their annual word or catch phrase that best represents the times we live in and the changing nature of the English language, they chose a word that would make tech-savvy business executives proud: "Crackberry."

The staff at John Wiley & Sons, the Hoboken, N.J.-based publishing group of the dictionary, holds an annual Word of the Year contest and chose the term Crackberry, which combines the word for the addictive cocaine called "crack" and the "berry" from Blackberry, a handheld device originated by Research in Motion.

"The word represents all handheld devices, the technology culture change we have gone through in that there is an addictive nature for people to get and give information on the go," Agnes said. "It's a pleasant exercise for the editors who get to choose a fun word that has developed in our language and made an impact."

Waterloo, Ontario-based Research in Motion reported a total 6.2 million Blackberry subscribers by the end of September, up 70 percent from 3.65 million in September 2005.

Agnes said the Word of the Year - often not yet in a dictionary - is one that catches the attention of the staff out of 1,500 to 2,000 new words a month.

"When we choose to monitor words, we look at what words should be monitored and are emerging across all industries and every way of life and then we look at what those words mean," Agnes said. "We add about 75 to 125 words a year to the dictionary and we consider overall relative frequency and breadth of use in the English language."

Crackberry follows "senior moment" and "job spill" as winners of Word of the Year. "Job spill relates to Crackberry in that it stands for job responsibilities that spill over into free time and people are often using their Blackberries and PDA devices to send and receive information after hours," Agnes said.

Official: Cell phone law

would be unenforceable

Jim Champagne, executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, said the Legislature is unlikely to pass a law against using cell phones while driving.

"I think that it is unenforceable. I don't know that you can legislate common sense," Champagne told about a dozen people Nov. 13 at the Press Club of Baton Rouge. "To me it is a common-sense issue." Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia restrict the use of cell phones by drivers, said Matt Sundeen, transportation specialist for the National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver.

A study earlier this year found nearly eight of 10 collisions and near-crashes nationwide involved driver inattention. The risk of a crashing nearly triples when a driver used a cell phone.

In Louisiana, 2,200 drivers were seriously injured and seven died while talking on cell phones, Champagne said.

Legislators might approve a ban on hand-held phones while still allowing hands-free cell phones, he said.

Telecommuting rises

to 45 million workers

In 1990, about 4 million people telecommuted or worked from a remote location at least once per year.

In 2006, the Washington, D.C.-based Telework Coalition reports 45 million telecommuters exist.

A Robert Half International survey of 1,400 chief financial officers reported telecommuting is the second-best benefit to attract job talent. The best is money, according to the Menlo Park, Calif.-based staffing and consulting services firm.

Jack Heacock, senior vice president for Telework Coalition, estimates employers spend between $5,000 to $15,000 per employee per year on office space.

"It's not just a cubicle. It's parking, common areas, meeting rooms, cabling, power, insurance and just higher operating costs for the employer. And for the employee they can avoid the cost of clothing, dry cleaning, lunches, parking and auto insurance because of significant less travel time," Heacock said. "Businesses are beginning to let employees have that part-time option of telecommuting."

Heacock said telecommuters have grown with changing demographics and more spouses opting out of the work force to spend more time at home and with families.

"There are a large number of baby boomers retiring and a skills shortage has developed where employers can not recruit necessary talent within a 40-mile commuting radius," Heacock said. "Many workers are taking their business and technical skills home with them. They are not willing to re-enter the work force for long, expensive commutes but they may, however, be willing to work from home part-time."