Google clashes with Swedes over ‘ungoogleable’

STOCKHOLM — Sweden’s language watchdog has accused Google of trying to control the Swedish language in a dispute over the definition of the colloquial term “ungoogleable.”

The Swedish version of the word — “ogooglebar” — made the Language Council of Sweden’s 2012 list of words that aren’t in the Swedish dictionary but have entered common parlance. The council defined it as something “that cannot be found on the Web with a search engine.”

But Google objected, asking for changes showing the expression specifically refers to Google searches and a disclaimer saying Google is a registered trademark, the council said Tuesday.

Rather than changing the definition, the council deleted the word from the list, while stressing “our displeasure with Google’s attempts to control the language.”

Google didn’t immediately answer an email seeking comment.