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Retweet, Sexting & More Added To Oxford Dictionary; Are We Doomed Yet?
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Woot!

As time has moved forward, many words have been added to the Oxford English Dictionary””some relevant, and some not so much.

But now you can’t really help but scratch your head at the amount of ridiculous words being added lately and wonder if we’re all just that screwed when it comes to the future of this planet, or if this is all just acceptable evolution.

Just added to the dictionary are words like “sexting” (to text message sexual material); “retweet” (to share something others have said or shared on the Twitter); “jeggings” (a horrific combination of jeans and leggings, best shown off by Conan O’Brien); “woot” (an internet–age indicator of excitement, or a joyful cheer); and “cyberbullying” (one of the acceptable new words, which is the title for bullying over the internet).

But the words aren’t just randomly chosen as they appear to be popular””they’re entered into a database of over 2 billion words, showing whether they’re basically just a one–hit wonder, or if they’re used so commonly that it becomes apparent the words aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Oxford Dictionary editor Angus Stevenson says “It’s how the dictionary has always worked””we get as much evidence as we can so we know it’s not just a small number of people using the word and it’s not going to disappear. There’s no official panel of cabinet ministers for new words or anything like that. For example, ‘woot'””I don’t use it personally, but that’s not relevant. It’s someone saying ‘hurrah’ on Facebook, then their friends see it, and it spreads.”

Even so, you have to wonder if words like this being added to the Oxford is only an indicator of an immense, oncoming doom, or if it’s all inconsequential.

What do you think of Oxford’s new additions?

[Source: The Telegraph]

4 Comments »

  1. If they’re to include cyberbulling, they should include trolling.  The two are mutually exclusive and certainly not the same.  Trolling is a art. 

    Comment by Greg Davies/cGt2099 — August 20, 2011 @ 5:34 pm

  2. an* art

    Comment by Adell454 — August 20, 2011 @ 1:10 pm

  3. Words have been invented for as long as humans have spoken. Shakespeare invented literally thousands of words, and no one thinks that was weird. Language is constantly changing, and especially as technology develops, it is important to acknowledge words that relate to new developments. I think Oxford is great for including these words! It shows a very down-to-earth realization that language always changes, and there is no point trying to prevent it. 

    Comment by Lori — August 20, 2011 @ 10:08 pm

  4. “Cyberbullying” and “sexting” are both commonly used enough that I suppose they deserve some recognition.  Twitter becoming part of the vernacular is just sad, never heard of “jeggings” (which says it all) and the inclusion of “woot” is absolutely moronic.  Though I have to agree with Greg Davies above that “trolling” deserves inclusion.

    I suppose the English language is going to hell.  On the other hand, chances are predecessors to “woot” like “groovy” and “radical” are included, thus proving the English language has been going to hell for decades.

    Comment by Vinnie Rattolle — August 21, 2011 @ 1:30 pm

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