Over the last two days I have been sharing some new words with you—words just added to Dictionary.com and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
This, of course raises the question of just how do new words get into the dictionary?
Does someone invent them and send them in hoping the dictionary publisher likes them and puts them in the big book?
I have often been asked that question.
And the answer to that one is: no.
You can’t just invent a word and offer it.
New words are added to dictionaries on the basis of usage.
All dictionaries keep a huge file of the words being used publicly at any time.
When the Oxford (and other early dictionaries) were first compiled such data bases (as we would call them today) were on slips of paper or file cards.
These days, of course, they are in computers.
Dictionaries call this huge collection of modern usage a ‘corpus’ (from the Latin word for ‘body’—since this is the evidence for the body of English currently in use).
The Collins Dictionary cleverly calls their corpus ‘the bank of English’ (as a play on ‘Bank of England’).
These files contain short quotations (called citations) showing each word in use, in context.
Here’s how the Merriam-Webster people describe the process:
A word gets into a dictionary when it is used by many people who all agree that it means the same thing. If your toddler nephew invented a great word that the English language simply can’t do without, don’t write to us to recommend that it be added to the dictionary. Use it. First, you drop the word into your conversation and writing, then others pick it up; the more its use spreads, the more likely it will be noticed by dictionary editors, or lexicographers.
If your nephew’s word is one that English speakers decide we need, it has a good chance of getting into the dictionary.
The latest edition of The Spectator Australia is in newsagents now -- with a golfing cartoon on the cover and my 'Language' column in the back.
My latest column at News24 online is about Chris Bowen's failed Pacific climate forum. Here's the link: 'World has lost interest': Chris Bowen's Pacific climate change circus proves a flop amid Japan, Chile and Canada indifference | News24
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BOOKS:
* My latest book is called Pray Like This. To look at prayer I do what I do in these Ozword columns: I go through the most famous prayer in the world (The Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Our Father) and unpack it word by word—each chapter being a short word-study on a key word in that prayer. There is a total of 21 words studies in all. To find out more, here’s a link to the publisher’s website (where you can buy a copy if you wish): Pray Like This – matthiasmedia.com.au
* My book is Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries -- containing 50 new stories I have written about the great detective. You can find it on Amazon. Just go to Amazon and type in Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries in the search panel. Or use this link: h Amazon.com.au : Sherlock Holmes 5-Minute Mysteries Kel Richards
* My book "Defending the Gospel" is now in a second, fully revised, edition. You can find it here: Defending the Gospel – matthiasmedia.com.au
* If you're looking for my recent book "Flash Jim" you'll find it here -- Flash Jim, The astonis
hing story of the convict fraudster who wrote Australia's first dictionary by Kel Richards | 9781460759769 | Booktopia
* You can find all Kel's books currently in print here -- Booktopia Search Results for 'kel richards'. We sell books, hardback, paperback, audio, CDs.
* And also here -- Amazon.com.au : Kel Richards
* And you'll find more here -- Search: 4 results found for "Kel Richards" – matthiasmedia.com.au
* Many of Kel's out of print books can be found at ABE Books -- Kel Richards - AbeBooks explaining words explain the term
BY THE WAY...
If you'd like to see my A-Z list of Aussie slang, you'll find it here in the Australian Geographic website -- A-Z list of Aussie slang. Here’s the link: The A-Z of Aussie slang - Australian Geographic
The liveliest part of this website is usually the Q and A page -- be sure to check it out from time to time.
