Publisher Merriam-Webster has offered new words for 2009 to be entered into their dictionaries. “Many of the new words address: concerns about the environment (carbon footprint, green collar), government activities (earmark, waterboarding),” and “pop culture (docusoap, fan fiction, flash mob, reggaeton)”. This year it seems there is some controversy though and not just from grammar cops like me. Green collar job promoters Green For All object to the popular dictionary’s definition of “green jobs”.

According to greenforall.org:

The dictionary defines “green-collar” as:

‘of, relating to, or involving actions for protecting the natural environment’.

This definition falls flat in a couple of different ways. Chief among them is that “Green-collar” doesn’t make a whole lot of sense unless it is in reference to jobs and the economy.

If dictionaries quoted organizations, Merriam-Webster could just use this simple Green For All definition:

A green-collar job is a blue-collar job, upgraded to improve the environment and fight climate change.”

In the greenforall.org article “Green-collar” defined… incorrectly.” “green collar” is further defined in relation to the phrase “blue collar”.

Among the new words is also the word vlog which I can define for you right now as a video blog. Check vlogger Jay Smooth’s thoughts on pop life, race matters and John Mayer.

Merriam-Webster has also seen fit to “redefine” marriage by adding a second definition. True story. Never mind jokes about Adam and Steve and “no homo”, this has some conservatives pretty cranky. To read more check out “Gay marriage gets recognition – in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary” at nydailynews.com.

Here’s the complete list of new words for 2009 merriam-webster.com

GREEN FACT: Green For All founder, The Great Van Jones, now works for President Obama and you as Special Advisor, White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).

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