Langugage is a living thing! Monday, December 04, 2006
"Change and variable are as natural in languages as they are in other areas of human life" (culture!!!) (Quote from Merriam-Webster) - word usage is continuously being tracked by dictionary editors as it is used so that they can decide which words to include in the dictionary and to determine what they mean.
Merriam-Webster website wrote that "Each day most Merriam-Webster editors devote an hour or two to reading a cross section of published material, including books, newspapers, magazines, and electronic publications; in our office this activity is called "reading and marking." The editors scour the texts in search of new words, new usages of existing words, variant spellings, and inflected forms—in short, anything that might help in deciding if a word belongs in the dictionary, understanding what it means, and determining typical usage. Any word of interest is marked, along with surrounding context that offers insight into its form and use".
This year, Merriam-Webster OnLine is also asking users to nominate a word which they've encountered and think best represents the year 2006. Submit your nomination and have your say.
An interesting article relating to 'new word of the year' can be found in Stay In Touch SMH Dec 4 2006 - the verb 'to bone' was as a synonym for 'to sack, remove, dismiss or drive out' - emerged in an allegation that a broadcasting co CEO threatened to do this to one of its presenter.
Each language articulates or organises the
world differently because different cultures take on different
emotions and attitudes when they conceptualise their experiences
or ideas and these are transmitted through their languages.
We must be equipped with an intercultural awareness besides
the language itself because target readers’ expectations
differ by their linguistic conventions as well as their cultural
norms... read more about this blog
