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(轉(zhuǎn)發(fā)),sexting(發(fā)送性短信)和 cyberbullying(網(wǎng)絡(luò)欺凌)這幾個詞也許對某些人來說沒有什么意義,但是今天它們卻和其他新詞條一道首次被收錄到《牛津簡明英語詞典》當中。 新世紀的這版詞典還附上了1911年版的詞典,這說明在英國人看來,neon(霓虹燈)、petticoat(襯裙)和“傷風敗俗的舞蹈”the Cancan(康康舞)這些詞都同樣值得被重視。 這本新出爐的詞典包含24萬多個詞語、短語和釋義,反映了英國當下普遍使用的語言。 Retweet(在Twitter上轉(zhuǎn)發(fā)或發(fā)布一條消息)、Sexting(用手機發(fā)送色情照片或短信)、woot(電子通訊中用來表達欣喜、狂熱或歡欣之情的感嘆詞)這幾個詞都被收錄到這部詞典當中。 還有時髦的Jeggings(女人穿的緊身彈力褲)和Mankini(男人穿的下身為G弦褲的連體超短泳衣,因喜劇人物波拉特而出名)。像這樣的詞這部詞典里也都收錄了。 不過2011版詞典所附帶的1911年限量版詞典讓我們可以一窺那個世界中有趣的新詞,包括marconigram(通過馬可尼的無線電報系統(tǒng)發(fā)送的信息)、kinematograph(一種電影放映機)和biplane(一種雙翼飛機)。 第12版詞典的編輯安格斯?史蒂文森說:“1911年版的詞典要比最新的這版小得多,而且有些地方措辭也更有古風。但我對那個版本的最主要的印象就是太棒了?!?/p> 從1911年的時尚世界里涌現(xiàn)出來的詞語向我們展示出,自亨利?福勒和喬治?福勒兄弟在根西島的住所編撰第一版牛津簡明英語詞典以來,世界發(fā)生了多大的變化。 第一版詞典包括blouse(當時的定義是工人穿的寬松的亞麻或棉布服裝)、frock(修道士穿的袖口寬松的長袍)和petticoat(一種婦女、女孩和男孩穿的高及腰部的裙子,有穿在外面的,也有穿在禮服或連衣裙里面的)。在現(xiàn)在的版本中blouse和frock都新增了“女式服裝”的詞義。 不過我們發(fā)現(xiàn),在1911年第一版詞典的創(chuàng)作過程中,新科技和社會潮流也起到了重要的作用,當時收錄的一些詞也同樣很“潮”。 相關(guān)閱讀 《牛津英語詞典》網(wǎng)絡(luò)版流行 或?qū)⑼V褂∷?/a> (中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津 實習生沈清 編輯:陳丹妮) |
Vocabulary: entry: 詞條 overriding: 壓倒一切的,首要的 racy: 具特色的,新鮮的,活潑的 |