Oxford needs to look up the word "slang."

[Paul Henry]

http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news...nary?GT1=43001


Your thoughts? I am frustrated beyond belief at my generation.

I'm not really sure what the problem is, The Oxford Dictionaries are simply that, a large list of words that are used in the English language, they don't suggest which words to use, merely which words have been used.To be realistic they will forever be putting words in which are not absolutely current, as any word has to have some use before many people know what it is.
English is one of the few languages which continually adds words to the canon, and doesn't remove them.
To me as a British English speaker, but not an native of England, I enjoy the richness and variety that English has, and am very glad that some people do take the trouble to write it down

for a current dictionary of slang try this Urban

[azwildcat96]

I'm not really sure what the problem is, The Oxford Dictionaries are simply that, a large list of words that are used in the Englaish language, they don't suggest which words to use, merely which words have been used.To be realistic they will forever be putting words in which are not absolutely current, as any words has to have some use before many people know what it is.
English is one of the few languages which continually adds words to the canon, and doesn't remove them.
To me as a British English speaker, but not an native of England, I enjoy the richness and variety that English has, and am very glad that some people do take the trouble to write it down

Well said...and if you really want to see some of the newer words in use by some, try checking out one of the on-line slang dictionary sites. That will really put things in a new perspective!

[xman]

I still remember when ain't wasn't a word.

PS Shouldn't it really be spelled 'om-nom-nom' though?

[Lyle1]

I still remember when ain't wasn't a word.

Sorry, but "ain't" has always been a word. It was formerly considered a word that was not used by educated people or people who wanted to appear genteel, but it has always been a word. That said, it isn't a word that I choose to use.

It amazes me that people in general have become so lax about the language that they choose to use. I've witnessed quite a few resumes from well qualified candidates go straight to the trash because of poorly written cover letters. The reasoning was that if a person with advanced academic degrees could not write an articulate and dignified letter, they were probably not not going to present well in business interactions.

[CDNSushi]

Sorry, but "ain't" has always been a word. It was formerly considered a word that was not used by educated people or people who wanted to appear genteel, but it has always been a word. That said, it isn't a word that I choose to use.

It amazes me that people in general have become so lax about the language that they choose to use. I've witnessed quite a few resumes from well qualified candidates go straight to the trash because of poorly written cover letters. The reasoning was that if a person with advanced academic degrees could not write an articulate and dignified letter, they were probably not not going to present well in business interactions.

Innit, though.

[Whidbey78]

What I find much more aggravating than "bromance" and "bloggable" being accepted by Oxford's lexicographers is the word "like" being used as every other word in a sentence, and the continuous misuse of "literally." Another irritant is the use of "bring" when "take" is the appropriate word. And why do people talk in internet lingo and acronyms such as "BRB" and "***?" I have dozens of these "pet peeves," but I simply count them as hazards of being an English major.

My wife's best friend talks a lot like a "Valley Girl." Example:"So I was like thinking about going out of town this weekend but like I totally didn't feel like driving and stuff. Then like I was talking to Katy and she said that she had the squirts and I was like TMI but she said if she like felt better by Friday she was like going to the Black Hills for the whole weekend so I asked her if she could like bring me to Deadwood with her and like pick me up on the way back to here. She said 'no.' I was all like *** and I was like so mad I like literally exploded." I can't carry on a conversation with her. All the "likes" make it take too long. Sadly, she has two Masters Degrees and should know better. She is also a teacher. Thankfully, she's a music teacher and not an English teacher, but she really should be a better example to students regardless of the subject she teaches.

[Burly Brute]

I'm not really sure what the problem is, The Oxford Dictionaries are simply that, a large list of words that are used in the English language, they don't suggest which words to use, merely which words have been used.To be realistic they will forever be putting words in which are not absolutely current, as any word has to have some use before many people know what it is.
English is one of the few languages which continually adds words to the canon, and doesn't remove them.
To me as a British English speaker, but not an native of England, I enjoy the richness and variety that English has, and am very glad that some people do take the trouble to write it down

for a current dictionary of slang try this Urban

But "PROLLY" is just Probably, or "SAMMICH" is just sandwich, but spelled like that because people are either dumb/lazy. So they aren't technical words to begin with, they are just slang terms which should be religated as such!

[Duke of Delrio]

I agree 100% with Burly Brute, and . . . and Carthage MUST be destroyed!

[Macman]

I agree 100% with Burly Brute, and . . . and Carthage MUST be destroyed!

I'm, like, literally laughing my head off!

[CDNSushi]

"SAMMICH" is just sandwhich, but spelled like that because people are either dumb/lazy.

Not true. Sammich and nom nom are memes. There is a difference, IMO.

Here is a link to help with everyone's edumacation.