Johannesburg - The journal LitNet has announced its Afrikaans word of the year, and it might not be what one would have expected - #.

Yes, that’s right. The word of the year is the hashtag symbol.

But can it be regarded as a word?

According to Emeritus Professor of Linguistics at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Ernst Kotzé, a hashtag (#) can be described as a logo graphic word that, like any alphabetical word in Afrikaans, can be expressed, in any manner whatsoever.

"This follows the tradition of word types that was created by the use of electronic text," Kotzé said in a statement.

"This includes pictographs like emojis (the face with tears of joy) that was selected as the word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries in the United Kingdom."

"#" was suggested by Lydia Potgieter, who also won R1 000 for the suggestion.

The other words that were shortlisted were: Studente-opstande, Zunami, Vlugteling, SlimWim, Droogte, Beurtwater, Terreur, Gaydebat, Afrikaans, Kakiebosch, Ekkie, Poenankies, Witgeit, Hommeltuig.

