Posted on 08/05/2003 10:36:32 AM PDT by mikeb704
Thomas Mann said, "Speech is civilization itself." A common knowledge of words and their meanings is necessary for a culture to survive and flourish.
English, it is believed, already has more words than any other language. As our society evolves, so do words and their usages.
Dictionaries track such changes. A few weeks ago a new edition of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, a perennial bestseller, was published. At roughly the same time, the prestigious Oxford English Dictionary added hundreds of new words to its online version.
Some of the words appear fairly common. Brewski (a beer), chin music (an inside pitch to scare a batter), identity theft, roach motel, and heart-healthy have been around quite a while. And we all know what a comb-over is, even though guys like Al Gore and me have never had to employ one.
Some of the words seemingly make little sense. Why is U. S. money in the form of bills called dead presidents? On the $10 note, non-president Alexander Hamilton is featured. Non-president Ben Franklin graces the $100 note. Salmon Chase, who made it to the Supreme Court but not the White House, is on the – let me check in my wallet a second - $10,000 note. A lexicographer’s job, obviously, is to document words in widespread use whether they are logical or not.
Then there’s phat. I’ve heard younger (then again, who’s not?) people use it a few times, but it always sounds forced. I think it’s akin to the 60’s word gear, which also appeared contrived. Coincidentally, both words mean cool, which also once was a slangy code word used primarily by the young.
Headbanger, a hard rock musician or a fan of aforesaid musician, is listed. A Goth is defined as a person wearing heavy makeup and dyed black hair. So I suppose Bob Dole potentially qualifies as a Goth.
The Internet Age is responsible for a number of new entries. A dot-commer is described as someone who works for a dot-com. That presumes, of course, that you know what a dot-com is. Certainly you do if you’re a propeller-head, yet another recently added word. But if you’re computerphobic (another new listing) you may not.
Societal changes are especially evident in the new entries in the Oxford English Dictionary Online. Queer Nation is listed, as well as gay gene, gay marriage, gay panic, gay panic defense, and gay pride. Just in case you overlook those, there’s also homosexual marriage, homosexual panic and homosexual panic defense.
Additionally, there’s gaydar, defined as the ability to discern on sight another person’s sexual orientation. In the old days, the word orientation would have been replaced by preference, but we’ve indeed come a very long way, baby.
Some of the new words have obvious meanings. Most people won’t need to look up bazillion, gazillion, or Wonderbra or lunchbox. And I think that, even though I had not heard or seen them earlier, I can probably hazard a guess as to what crotchless and auto-erotic asphyxiation are.
Other words present more of a challenge. What in the world is Bharatanatyam? It’s a South Indian dance. Twoc means to steal, and comes from a contraction for taking without consent, which is used on English police reports. Skeevy means disgusting to the point of nausea. Bogof stands for buy one, get one free.
As rapidly as the world changes, so does the English language. Maybe for the good, perhaps for the bad, but change nevertheless.
The difference being that the English language adds new words as needed to provide new meaning and nuances. That is, the language is amended. In the case of the Constitution, the meaning of the same old words is changed as needed, to suit whatever cause de jure.
Sorry, I'm sticking with my definitely non-PC 1950 edition.
Um. Okay: "gay"
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