Different worlds: Borat's mankini is considered as controversial today as the Cancan(康康舞) was in the Concise Oxford English Dictionary 100 years ago. |
Retweet, sexting and cyberbullying may be meaningless to some but they are among a host of new entries appearing in the Concise Oxford English Dictionary for the first time today. But its new centenary edition includes a copy of the 1911 version, which shows Britons thought the words neon, petticoat, and 'indecent dance' the Cancan all deserved similar recognition. The brand-new dictionary contains more than 240,000 words, phrases and definitions, reflecting language used widely in the UK today. Retweet - to repost or forward a message on Twitter, sexting - the sending of sexually explicit photographs or messages via a mobile phone, and woot - used in electronic communication to express elation enthusiasm or triumph, all make the book. Also fashionable Jeggings - tight-fitting stretch trousers for women and the mankini - a brief one-piece bathing garment for men with a T-back, made famous by comedy character Borat, are in. But the 1911 limited-edition dictionary included with its 2011 counterpart, offers a glimpse into a world where exciting new words included 'marconigram' - a message sent by Marconi's wireless telegraphy system; 'kinematograph' - an apparatus producing motion pictures; and 'biplane' - a two-winged aeroplane. 'The 1911 dictionary was a lot smaller than the latest version and is phrased more quaintly in some places, but my overriding impression of it is how good it was,' Angus Stevenson, an editor of the 12th edition of the dictionary said. Words from the fashion world of 1911 show how much the world has changed since brothers Henry and George Fowler compiled their first edition in their Guernsey cottage. It includes 'blouse' - then defined as a workman's loose linen or cotton garment - 'frock' - a monk's long gown with loose sleeves and 'petticoat' - a skirt dependent from waist, worn by women, girls and young boys, either externally or beneath gown or frock. Both are additionally defined as women's garments in the current edition. But it has emerged that new technology and social trends also played a major part in the creation of the first edition in 1911, and some words were considered just as racy. (Read by Lee Hannon. Lee Hannon is a journalist at the China Daily Website.) (Agencies) |
Retweet(转发),sexting(发送性短信)和 cyberbullying(网络欺凌)这几个词也许对某些人来说没有什么意义,但是今天它们却和其他新词条一道首次被收录到《牛津简明英语词典》当中。 新世纪的这版词典还附上了1911年版的词典,这说明在英国人看来,neon(霓虹灯)、petticoat(衬裙)和“伤风败俗的舞蹈”the Cancan(康康舞)这些词都同样值得被重视。 这本新出炉的词典包含24万多个词语、短语和释义,反映了英国当下普遍使用的语言。 Retweet(在Twitter上转发或发布一条消息)、Sexting(用手机发送色情照片或短信)、woot(电子通讯中用来表达欣喜、狂热或欢欣之情的感叹词)这几个词都被收录到这部词典当中。 还有时髦的Jeggings(女人穿的紧身弹力裤)和Mankini(男人穿的下身为G弦裤的连体超短泳衣,因喜剧人物波拉特而出名)。像这样的词这部词典里也都收录了。 不过2011版词典所附带的1911年限量版词典让我们可以一窥那个世界中有趣的新词,包括marconigram(通过马可尼的无线电报系统发送的信息)、kinematograph(一种电影放映机)和biplane(一种双翼飞机)。 第12版词典的编辑安格斯•史蒂文森说:“1911年版的词典要比最新的这版小得多,而且有些地方措辞也更有古风。但我对那个版本的最主要的印象就是太棒了。” 从1911年的时尚世界里涌现出来的词语向我们展示出,自亨利•福勒和乔治•福勒兄弟在根西岛的住所编撰第一版牛津简明英语词典以来,世界发生了多大的变化。 第一版词典包括blouse(当时的定义是工人穿的宽松的亚麻或棉布服装)、frock(修道士穿的袖口宽松的长袍)和petticoat(一种妇女、女孩和男孩穿的高及腰部的裙子,有穿在外面的,也有穿在礼服或连衣裙里面的)。在现在的版本中blouse和frock都新增了“女式服装”的词义。 不过我们发现,在1911年第一版词典的创作过程中,新科技和社会潮流也起到了重要的作用,当时收录的一些词也同样很“潮”。 相关阅读 (中国日报网英语点津 实习生沈清 编辑:陈丹妮) |
Vocabulary: entry: 词条 overriding: 压倒一切的,首要的 racy: 具特色的,新鲜的,活泼的 |