by Krisha Kinnersley
WHAT’S HAPPENING
- “Mantyhose”, “photobombing” and “Eurogeddon” — these are just some of the words UK publisher Collins could make official, now that the public can nominate new words for the Collins Dictionary (Wired.co.uk, 17 July 2012).
- The initiative aims to make the process of recording English “more democratic”.
- Anyone can submit a new word and definition on the “What’s your word?” section of the Collins Dictionaries site.
- Submissions are reviewed by editors, who check for criteria such as frequency of usage, how widely a word is used and its staying power. Winning entries are published on the online dictionary — and credit is given to whoever submitted the word.
- To encourage submissions, Collins is giving away one prize each day from 17 July to 31 August, 2012. Anyone who participates is automatically entered in the draw.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS
- English-speakers love a bit of wordplay, and the fluidity and widespread use of the language make it a great tool for coining new expressions. Meanwhile, these new words often serve as a mirror for cultural and political events.
- Language change often happens from the ground up. Encouraging the public to voice their favourite phrases is an excellent way to keep consumers interested and speak their lingo.
RESOURCES
