Japan’s go-to dictionary revises two entries: “LGBT” and “Shimanami Expressway”
Publishers of Japan’s most respected dictionary, Kōjien, corrected two definitions this year, for “LGBT” and “Shimanami Expressway,” according to the Japan Times. Though most Americans probably won’t understand what was up with “Shimanami Expressway,” the issue… Read more »
“Mummy, what’s a hamster?”
A number of prominent writers have penned an open letter to Oxford University Press to express their unease after learning of longterm changes made to inclusions in the Oxford Junior… Read more »
Third edition of the OED to be completed in 2034
According to the Telegraph, the third edition of the Oxford English Dictionary is not only over twenty years behind schedule, but also risks losing its place in print. Michael Proffitt, who… Read more »
Madeline Kripke’s incredible dictionary collection
In a small loft on Perry Street in the West Village lives Madeline Kripke and her extraordinary 20,000-volume dictionary collection. Kripke’s collection is world-class: Jesse Sheidlower, Editor at Large of… Read more »
Droppin science on the dictionary
It’s not usually my first port of call for music news, but there was a great tribute to Adam Yauch on the OED blog last week. It’s cheering to know… 1 / Read more »
Fifty Shades of Gray?
A copyeditor, or proofreader, reading the headline above, would need to pause — if he or she has even an average awareness of the flotsam of American culture, the one… Read more »
I’ve been Kerouacking through life — but I should have been a Faulkner
Alexander Nazaryan at the Daily News (New York — not L.A. or Galveston) has compiled a list of neologisms, taken from the online Urban Dictionary, all derived from the names of famous… Read more »
How worried should we be about text speak?
Here’s an argument that always ruffles some feathers: do the users of a language create or follow its rules? Since the codification of languages began—the 16th century, if we’re talking… 2 / Read more »
Untranslatable words
The Big Think recently published this great list of untranslatable words related to relationships. Our favourites: Ilunga (Bantu): A person who is willing to forgive abuse the first time; tolerate it… Read more »
Well, no one can accuse this publisher of going to press too hastily. Last week the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute brought to fruition a 90-year-long project started by the… Read more »