Wordsmith waiting for milllionth word

AUSTIN, Texas, May 29 (UPI) -- English is about to get its millionth word, a Texas wordsmith says.

Paul JJ Payack, president of the Global Language Monitor, has calculated the millionth word will join the language June 10, 2009, at 10:22 a.m. His clock is set to the time in Stratford-on-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare, a man who gave many words currency in modern English.

"The Million Word milestone brings to notice the coming of age of English as the first, truly global Language," Payack said.

He finds three major trends in the language -- an "explosion in word creation" with an average of 14.7 new words being added each day; the spread of English around the world with 1.53 billion English speakers; and English's emergence as the first truly global language.

Payack said the millionth word might emerge from a non-English speaking country. One of his candidates, bangster, which combines banker and gangster, was apparently coined in Poland.

Other candidates include mobama, a word suggesting someone of Michelle Obamaish chic, recessionista, and wonderstar, a word for stars like Susan Boyle, the middle-aged Scotswoman who became a sensation on "Britain's Got Talent."