Thread: 2 New Words Added to the Dictionary

The English language is nothing more then a mutt of world languages, so it's only right to include the latest language. Netspeak. After all, we can't discriminate!

Originally Posted by ExoByte

Though I, for one, will make sure to incorporate these into every english paper I ever write from this point forward.

Don't forget Scrabble.

Language changes constantly. If you live long enough you'll see how language changes completely.

Yeah I agree, it's just changing bit by bit. I don't think it has anything to do with stupidity.

How is one to pronounce "FTW"...?
I mean, it's stated as an interjection, not an abbreviation, so it isn't meant to be read "for the win" but then...heh, that's some interjection: "eff-tee-double-you"!

languages always change and evolve. in every language new words are created and older words not used anymore are lost. Old English seems like a totally different language when you read or hear it. So I don't think it's stupid that our language continues to slowly change, the way it has been since there was a language. The rules aren't necessarily set in stone. Rules can change, when enough people start speaking a certain way. What English professors would call "correct" English today, would not have been considered correct a few centuries ago, in many cases. Just like, in the future, there will be words that would be considered slang today, but in the future it will be correct grammar and vocabulary.

sounds like it was supposed to be a joke to me.....

But it's in Extended Discussion. o.o
And dictionaries don't joke around with adding words.

which specific dictionary*, and why those words in particular? if anything they should add LOL or WTF, something like that- they're the most prevalent terms.

if the additions are indications of stupidity on any level, it's on the part of whoever edits the dictionary. they could have added something a lot more useful, like the verb "google" or something. no one knows what a lolcat is.

*if you say urban dictionary i'll die laughing.

Oh my. Is it Webster's Dictionary?

Well I looked on Google and couldn't find the article but I did find this.

Dreamscape has been added.

New Words

Originally Posted by Daeva

The English language is nothing more then a mutt of world languages

You say that like it's a bad thing.

Originally Posted by ExoByte

Yet another sign of a world gone stupid *sigh* It's when they start adding internet words to the real dictionary that you know that a language is slowly dying.

The language is dying? Words are being added.

This can only ever be a good thing. Language dies when you end up with something like Orwell's Newspeak, and the vocabulary is reduced.

That language is being added to is entirely positive. It make the range of words we have to express ourselves even larger. That has to be good.

FTW is something I might use in a normal conversation in an attempt to sound ironic, sarcastic (which I would obviously succeed at). It can be humorous to use 1337 speak while talking aloud occasionally, it isn't difficult to imagine a situation where that would be applicable.

I honestly can't stand these people who think that by adding words with connations to illiteracy or to simplicity we are killing off the language. It merely gives us a wider range, it is when people start removing the words that have more complex and intellectual or traditional connotations that we will be killing the language (for example, if we removed the phrase "for the win" and replaced it with "ftw").

Only yesterday in chat Merlock (a man I have nothing but respect for, he is never anything but extensive in his vocabulary) was deploring the use of the adjective "hot" being used in place of "beautiful". I couldn't understand it. "Hot" has not lost its other meaning (in terms of heat, temperature, "Goodness, that water's hot", and so on) but has gained a new one. Using "hot" to describe a lady of particular physical attractiveness instead of "beautiful" has different connations, it sounds more lustful, more sexually charged than the more poetic "beautiful". Whether this makes it more favourable to use than "beautiful" I wouldn't like to say, but the point is it gives us even more range to be expressive.

...goodness, I had no idea I felt so passionately about the matter.

That's a good point, adding new words and meaning should make a conversation eaiser to hold.

And about the meaning of "Hot" when it comes to a lady, I wonder who invented that. But that's the reason I don't use it much, because it also has a meaning in temperature and people find it rude for no apparent reason. Although when you call a girl "Good looking" or "Pretty" she'll be fine to thank you for it. It's weird!

As for "Lolcat", that's a bit of a silly word and I've never seen anyone use it. I can understand "Lol, cat" but why "Lolcat"?

I can't understand "Lol, cat"...you don't say "lol". >.<

Oh right so that's how you pronounce it, as literally "Lolcat". If so, then maybe I can understand it.

I was just thinking about internet terms, it looks silly.

I've used lol in actual conversation at times. In my school it's come to be vaguely ironic, ie, saying 'laugh out loud' instead of actually doing it. Then again, as Merlock pointed out about ftw, lol has come to mean far more than what it abbreviates. Theres a whole realm of conantions for it nowadays.

Originally Posted by Siиdяed

You say that like it's a bad thing.

It makes the language a lot harder to understand and learn if you just have a grab bag of rules and words from various languages so yeah, in a way it is a bad thing. I use lol in common everyday conversation as well, I pronounce it as lawl. Among my group of friends, we've come to agree that "Stoof" means STFU.

And also, can I get a link to something about this Exo? Where did you see it at?

Originally Posted by Daeva

It makes the language a lot harder to understand and learn if you just have a grab bag of rules and words from various languages so yeah, in a way it is a bad thing.

Uh... This would make it a good thing. For example, someone who speaks an African language could not understand a single Chinese word. Since English derives words and structures from so many different languages, no matter where you're from, you're bound to understand a little something. It is supposed to be the most difficult language, because of it's very odd structures, pronunciations, etc. but it's the "Language of Business" for a reason.

Originally Posted by Grod

Uh... This would make it a good thing. For example, someone who speaks an African language could not understand a single Chinese word. Since English derives words and structures from so many different languages, no matter where you're from, you'll be bound to understand a little something. It is supposed to be the most difficult language, because of it's very odd structures, pronounciations, etc. but it's the "Language of Business" for a reason.

It's the language of Business because we, for lack of a better way of putting it, 'own the interwebz.' I don't see it as remaining the language of business for too much longer, though. (I'm not talking a few more months at most, of course, I'm talking in the coming years it will be changed I am sure.)

But really, I'd rather a language have a reliable system of simple rules that make it easy to learn, rather then having a few rules and words I know and then having to learn various other rules and words from various other languages and then still being confused with the way many people use certain words.

Originally Posted by Daeva

It's the language of Business because we, for lack of a better way of putting it, 'own the interwebz.' I don't see it as remaining the language of business for too much longer, though. (I'm not talking a few more months at most, of course, I'm talking in the coming years it will be changed I am sure.)

But really, I'd rather a language have a reliable system of simple rules that make it easy to learn, rather then having a few rules and words I know and then having to learn various other rules and words from various other languages and then still being confused with the way many people use certain words.

Teh interwebz? English has been the business language long before the internet came out. This is because it is very precise, and can describe things very accurately.

Originally Posted by Grod

Teh interwebz? English has been the business language long before the internet came out. This is because it is very precise, and can describe things very accurately.

No, I'm saying that's why it is still the business language.

Originally Posted by Daeva

No, I'm saying that's why it is still the business language.

So then where does the internet come into this?

And why do you think it will not remain the business language? What do you think will replace it?

uh, Grod, English is probably one of the most difficult languages in the world to use. ya, there are a lot of languages mixed into it, and you'd think that that would make it easier, but it really makes it more confusing. There are all these rules from different languages, and then there are so many exceptions to the rule because of all of these different languages it's evolved from.

here's an example of things that can be hard to learn:

plural form of box is boxes
but for ox it's oxen, not oxes.
One fowl is a goose, and two are called geese,
Yet the plural of moose is never called meese.

see how there are many different rules for the ending of a plural word? While, in many other languages, the rules for making a plural word is much simplier, because there aren't as many different ways to make a plural word. this doesn't just apply to plural words. it's just an example.

here's a few more examples of different ways to say plural words in English:

You may find a lone mouse or a house full of mice;
But the plural of house is houses, not hice.
The plural of man is always men,
But the plural of pan is never pen.

so someone learning English would have memorize all these different ways to say certain plural words. I can imagine it being very confusing. there are so many different spelling/pronounciation/grammar patterns from many different languages, and have to learn them all. and, even then, it can be hard to find out which rule to use for which words. you pretty much have to just memorize it all. which is why I'm glad English is my native language.

here's some more random examples:

If I speak of a foot, and you show me two feet,
And I give you a book, would a pair be a beek?
If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,
Why shouldn't two booths be called beeth?

He could lead if he would get the lead out.
The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
(there are so many homophones in English)

Originally Posted by sagan-fan

uh, Grod, English is probably one of the most difficult languages in the world to use.

Originally Posted by Grod

It is supposed to be the most difficult language, because of it's very odd structures, pronunciations, etc. but it's the "Language of Business" for a reason.

.

Originally Posted by Grod

Teh interwebz? English has been the business language long before the internet came out. This is because it is very precise, and can describe things very accurately.

the real reason that Englsih is the "business language" is because America has the largest economy in the world, and does a lot more business around the world. And America's native language just happens to be English. If France had a larger economy than the US and did more business around the world, the business language would be French. It's all a matter of who's controlling it all at the moment.