New Word Open Mic! (Or, "So You Think You Can Neologize?")

Do you have a new word you've invented? Do you think it's got a chance of being in a dictionary someday?

Come to the New Word Open Mic on Saturday, June 16th, from 4:30 to 5:45 in Breasted Hall, at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago in Hyde Park.

Present your word to a panel of dictionary editors and neologism experts who will tell you, American-Idol style, just how much (or little) of a chance your word has of making it into a dictionary.

Email for a guaranteed time slot to present your new word, or just show up and sign up onsite.

The winner of the best new word, as judged by the panel, will receive a brand-new dictionary. The winner of the best new word, as judged by the audience, will also receive a prize.

The New Word Open Mic is part of the Dictionary Society of North America's sixteenth biennial meeting, about which more information can be found here.

Directions to the Oriental Institute are here.

[Image courtesy mrhappy on Flickr.]

Labels: dsna_conference, neologism

This entry was posted by Erin, on Monday, June 04, 2007. You can leave your response.

“New Word Open Mic! (Or, "So You Think You Can Neologize?")”

1.  Anonymous Says:
   12:57 PM  

   And if we cannot come to Chicago but have numerous excellent new words? What to do! What to do!

2.  Erin Says:
   1:02 PM  

   You can't find a Chicago-area proxy? :-)

3.  dhammika Says:
   2:46 PM  

   I need a proxy! Good idea Erin..I live in London and don't know anyone at all in Chicago. But I've got a great word. Anyone want to stand in for me?
   
   Dee

4.  Ted McClure Says:
   10:57 PM  

   Any chance this will be broadcast over the Internet or recorded as a podcast?

5.  Erin Says:
   3:40 PM  

   Ted -- we're working on it!

6.  Anonymous Says:
   1:36 PM  

   I too have some neologisms and no way to enter them. What about an online competition?

7.  Vivian Says:
   11:43 PM  

   I too have a word that I invented, that I have been using for at least a dozen years.
   With proof.
   And nobody seems to misunderstand it.
   Except for an occasional behaviorist who wants to know in what text I found it.
   sigh.

8.  Attila the Pun Says:
   7:58 AM  

   Oh PLEASE find a way to make a recording and/or podcast and/or transcript and/or summary of this event available on the web!
   
   I just read about it in AWADmail Issue 265 (from wsmith@wordsmith.org, publisher of A Word A Day).
   
   My favorite - which I heard over 30 years ago, and have been using ever since, but have never seen "officialized", is "administrivia".