It’s in the dictionary.
Wednesday, July 9th by carla“Don’t say ain’t ’cause ain’t ain’t in the dictionary.”
My freshmen were always proud of themselves for coming up with that chestnut after a classroom discussion of the value of Standard English. They were disconcerted when I responded that, in fact, ain’t is in the dictionary — leading them to grab a nearby Merriam-Webster’s and check it out. I would add, “So are all the cuss words, and I don’t want you using those in class, either.” Once they found ain’t, they’d look up the expletive of their choice, and, grinning, move on. It’s possibly the only time they looked up a word in the dictionary of their own free will.
We no longer trust the authority of politicians, priests, or corporate executives as perhaps we once did in some nostalgic past. But the authority of the dictionary remains, so when Merriam-Webster announces that it’s adding 100 new words to its newest Collegiate edition, people take notice.
These aren’t necessarily new words — some date back more than a century — but they weren’t mainstream until recently. “As soon as we see the word used without explanation or translation or gloss, we consider it a naturalized citizen of the English language,” said Peter Sokolowski, an editor-at-large for Merriam-Webster. “If somebody is using it to convey a specific idea and that idea is successfully conveyed in that word, it’s ready to go in the dictionary.”
Which of these are already part of your lexicon?
- norovirus
Small, round single-stranded RNA viruses, such as the Norwalk Virus. First noted in 2002, this is among the newest of the new words. - malware
Like a computer virus (but different), malware is software that messes with your computer. - air quotes
Gesturing with your hands to indicate quotation marks. - mental health day
You’re not ill, but you’re calling in sick in hopes that a day off will lift your spirits. - webinar
A seminar held online. - wingnut
Considered slang, it describes an advocate of extreme change. - subprime
The 2007 Word of the Year on somebody’s list (not Merriam-Webster’s), it refers to the practice of lending money to people who don’t really qualify for the loan and then charging them a higher interest rate. - dwarf planet
A celestial body that orbits the sun and has a spherical shape but is too small to disturb other objects from its orbit. (See Pluto.) - pescatarian
A vegetarian who also eats fish. - mondegreen
First noted in 1954, words mistaken for other words. A mondegreen most often comes from misunderstood phrases or lyrics.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:59 am
My favorite Mondegreen is ,in air quotes ! I get high for I can’t hide in the Beatles “I want to hold your hand” : I get high I get high…..
July 9th, 2008 at 9:29 am
I always tell mine, “So is protoplasmatic, but you don’t go around using it all of the time.” For some reason, they seem to accept that.
I divide my classes into teams and the teams compete with each other for points on various things. Saying “ain’t” is a sure way to lose 25 points. It doesn’t take long for the students to start policing each other and trying to catch somebody saying the dreaded A-word.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Bijan, I like that one. Merriam-Webster is having a contest; you might want to enter it:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/newwords08.htm
July 9th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Mark, that’s a great way to empower students — let them monitor themselves. Mind if I borrow this idea when school starts?
July 10th, 2008 at 4:33 am
Please do. The competetion between teams was the best idea I ever had in terms of class discipline, motivations, and just sheer classroom fun.
July 18th, 2008 at 6:40 am
Wow! I’ve heard of and/or used some, but not many of these!!
malware — ah, yes, anyone who worries about all those threats to the hooked-up computer will be aware of this one
mental health day — took a few of those!
subprime — I hear it and know it’s connected with interest rates at the fed level, but don’t have the foggiest what it really means
dwarf planet — I used to have a cat named Pluto, so my attention was grabbed when this pronouncement was made!
I’d never heard the term mondegreen before, but it’s perfect for what my granddaughter is still doing (and grandsons used to do!) with words and phrases they heard — but didn’t hear exactly right. (I’m especially thinking of how she sings “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and our patriotic songs and others!) Slowly the kids understanding is straightened out as they grow older, but in some ways it’s sad because they’re cute while they last!
Such weird connections we make with words, huh?
July 18th, 2008 at 6:43 am
Ooops — “…the kids’ understanding…”