Dictionary.com adds new words reflecting online activism and work - Mashable - Dictionary

Dictionary.com announced its latest language updates as we reach the one year anniversary of our communal COVID-19 lockdown. In a year marked by new modes of communicating and advocating, the updates reflect our new reality with additions like "doomscrolling," "Zoom," and "BIPOC," (Black Indigenous and People of Color). 

The 2021 additions were announced on Thursday and include 7,600 updated entries, including 450 new words and 94 new definitions for existing entries. 

Dictionary.com will no longer use the term "slave" in entries for related phrases (like Harriet Tubman, plantation, and underground railroad), instead replacing the noun with the adjective "enslaved" or referring to the institution of slavery itself where possible. This language shift has come alongside a greater push to understand the complex history (and repercussions) of slavery in the United States. As New York Times Magazine writer Nikole Hannah-Jones explained on NPR's Fresh Air in regards to the decision to use the term "enslaved person" and not "slave" in her writing, "It was very important...to not use language that further dehumanizes people who every system and structure was designed to dehumanize. I think when we hear the word "slave," we think of slavery as being the essence of that person. But if you call someone an enslaved person, then it speaks to a condition. These people were not slaves."

The update adds the term "AAL" (African American Language) and accompanying words like "finna" and "chile", alongside frequently used phrases in the movement for racial justice like "marginalized" and "disenfranchisement." The website also added the terms "overpolice," "racialization," and "Critical Race Theory."  

The term "Indigenous" is now capitalized when "referring to a people who are the original, earliest known inhabitants of a region, or are their descendants." 

Dictionary.com said in a press release that the changes reflect how words act as an "opportunity for discovery and education" and focus on the themes of race, social justice, identity, and culture. Specifically, the website chose to include words that "have risen to the top of the national discourse on social justice," according to a statement by John Kelly, managing editor at Dictionary.com. "Our update also reflects how our society is reckoning with racism, including in language,” Kelly writes. "This is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure we represent people on Dictionary.com with due dignity and humanity.”  

Many of the COVID-19 related changes reflect the changing ways we work and learn online. Phrases like "blended learning" and "hybrid learning" explain how schools have adjusted to the age of Zoom, and terms like "flatten the curve," "superspreader," and "telework" show how the pandemic has "transformed our language," Kelly writes. 

In addition to "doomscrolling" and "Zoom," internet-related terms like "deepfake" and "sponcon" (sponsored content) show the evolving nature of technology and online consumers. 

Dictionary.com announced similarly reflective changes last year in its biggest update ever, including the capitalization of Black, replacements for the term "homosexual," and edits to entries about mental health and addiction. 

With this year's update, Dictionary.com acknowledges that the events of 2020 will continue to impact the way we understand community, work, and social justice movements. 

WATCH: Want to donate to help the Black Lives Matter movement? Here's how.

Why Dictionary.com will no longer use 'slave' as a noun to describe people: 'It's dehumanizing' - Yahoo Sports - Dictionary

The Guardian

The Bears are in a perfect position to end Russell Wilson's Seahawks career

The quarterback believes the team he has been a part of for his entire career is holding him back. If he wants out, now is the time to strike Russell Wilson has been to two Super Bowls with the Seahawks. Photograph: Elaine Thompson/AP Russell Wilson is the latest franchise star to put himself forward for this offseason’s game of quarterback musical chairs. Wilson, his agent has been at pains to point out, has not officially demanded a trade from Seattle, but he has – in a delightfully passive-aggressive, Wilson-esque way – made it clear to the team’s decision-makers that he is unhappy with the direction of the franchise and that he would prefer to leave. According to a detailed report in The Athletic, Wilson is unhappy with the team’s roster construction, the style of head coach/chief decision-maker Pete Carroll, and the Seahawks’ offensive system. At the center of the rift are two practical elements. First, Wilson’s desire to play in a modern, pace-and-space system similar to that which the Kansas City Chiefs have built around Patrick Mahomes, with everything flowing through the quarterback. Second, Seattle’s awful offensive line, one that has ranked dead stinking last in pressure rate in three out of the past five seasons. Carroll is an old-school, pound-the-run, play-solid-defense, don’t-turn-the-ball-over, coach. That served Wilson and the Seahawks well during the early years of the duo’s partnership. Behind an all-time defense, a bulldozing run-game led by Marshawn Lynch, and the playmaking brilliance of Wilson, the team went to back-to-back Super Bowls, winning one and losing the other. But as Wilson matured into one of the most well-rounded quarterbacks in the game and the roster around him disintegrated, Carroll did not evolve. He freed up the scheme and catered the system to Wilson in part, but the foundations remained run-first and risk-averse. Whereas Wilson looked in the mirror and saw Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning – quarterbacks with the freedom to change the play at the line of scrimmage and who had near-complete autonomy over the system – Carroll looked at his quarterback and saw a fantastic cog in his machine. The scheme still won out. All the while, Wilson was taking a beating – no quarterback has been hit more since he entered the league, and no quarterback has been hit at the same rate over a three-year span as Wilson has between 2018-2021. There was a change in philosophy last season though. After a three-year drum beat of #LetRussCook, an online movement that began to infiltrate the locker room – shorthand for Let Russell Wilson Pass More – Carroll handed Wilson the reins to the offense. Still: the quarterback was seen as a player, not a collaborator. He was not offered the kind of quarterback-coach partnership that Rodgers, Manning and Brady had at the peak of their powers, the kind that Wilson believes he has earned over nine years. “I know that I’m a great football player,” Wilson said last season. “I know I’ve been great, I know I will be great, and I know I’ll continue to be great.” And Wilson was great at the start of the 2020 season. Behind’s Wilson’s excellence, Seattle averaged four-and-a-half touchdowns per game over the first half of the season, the kind of total matched only by the Brady led Patriots of 2007, Manning’s 2013 Broncos, and the 2000 Rams – widely regarded as the best offensive teams of this century. It was a stunning rebuke of the Carroll doctrine. Wilson had finally been allowed to cook, and he proved to be the best chef in the game. Through eight weeks, he topped the MVP charts; even Mahomes could not keep pace. Wilson was able to maintain all of the efficiency that has defined his game with even more explosiveness. And then he cratered. After his best start to a season, Wilson flatlined over the final eight weeks. For the first time in his career, he finished outside the top 10 in Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric, a measure of a quarterback’s down-to-down efficiency (Wilson has been a demigod of DVOA over the span of his career). In a blink, Carroll returned to the Seahawks’ style of old. When Wilson tried to offer some input into the gameplan in the middle of last season’s decline, he was rebuffed by the coaching staff. Wilson stormed out of the meeting. Like any great drama, Wilson’s real beef is not about how the team does things. It’s about respect. He wants to be a partner, a part of a decision-making board, not an employee. “The most important people in the building,” Seahawks general manager John Schneider told reporters back in 2018, “are the head coach and the quarterback.” Wilson wants to hold him to that. And then there’s his need for external respect. For all of his excellence, for all of the plaudits, Wilson has still never received a single MVP vote. By throwing more, by posting the kind of numbers he did over the first half of last season for 16 games, he thinks he can finally get his hands on the MVP – that stuff really, really matters to Wilson. At the most important position in the sport, Wilson has been the game’s most consistent performer for the better part of a decade, and this despite the sense that the Seahawks system has held him back. Seattle’s rebuttal is an obvious one: Wilson has been good because of the system and its risk-averse nature, not in spite of it. When the handbrake came off, it proved to be unsustainable. The eye test – which often involves Wilson running here, there, and everywhere to avoid pressure – does not jibe with the team’s assessment. Tired of getting hit. Tired of playing in a plodding system. Tired of not being the sole focus of the franchise, Wilson appears to want out. Like another unsettled quarterback, Deshaun Watson, Wilson has a no-trade clause in his contract, arming him with a ton of leverage over the Seahawks – he will have more say than the team on where he plays in 2021 and beyond if he does move. His agent told ESPN that while Wilson will not demand an official trade, he has made it known to the Seahawks hierarchy the teams he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to move to the Cowboys, Saints, Raiders, or Bears. Dak Prescott’s new bumper deal rules Dallas out, while it seems increasingly likely that Drew Brees will return for one final ride with the Saints. That leaves us with the Raiders and Bears. Chicago make the most sense. The only way for the Bears to improve this offseason is to trade for a game-changing quarterback, either Wilson or Watson. The Bears have two paths heading into 2021: they land a franchise-altering quarterback and are a playoff team with holes on the roster; or they improve marginally at quarterback – either with Mitchell Trubisky developing or by landing another option in free agency – and they fall short again. It’s impractical for Chicago to think their defense can hold up at a high level for another season. Wilson knows how quickly elite defenses age. They’re great, then they stink. A good defense is never as a reliable as a good offense: a defense requires 20 talented players, an excellent scheme and a savvy play-caller; an offense can thrive with a great quarterback and a couple of talented pieces. There are very few deals that the Bears should turn down. Hand over the roster sheet, ask the Seahawks what they want, and include whatever picks are needed to flesh out the deal. Put the pressure on Seattle to turn it down and on Wilson to say yes or no. Has this offseason noise been hot air? Are the Wilson comments and leaks about airing grievances, about politics, about public relations? Or is he really looking for a change of scenery and a better shot to win an MVP and a championship? The Bears are the ones who can force the issue. It’s a small window, but it’s one the Bears and Wilson should both try to take advantage of. Wilson has spent much of his career as a polished professional. On a team that was infamously loud and outspoken – a loudness encouraged by the coach – he was the quiet one, to the point where his teammates questioned his motives. Now, in the era of quarterback empowerment, when Watson is talking of early retirement to force Houston’s hand and Matthew Stafford was able to force a move out of Detroit, Wilson has a chance to make his move. For a man who cares so much about his legacy, how he leaves a place appears to be essential. It’s why he’s playing footsie with other teams while Watson chose to hit the burn-it-all-down button. To force a move out of Seattle, Wilson may have to follow Watson’s lead. Will he?

Dictionary.com's Latest Update Reflects the Impact of Social Justice Movements and the Pandemic - 11Alive.com WXIA - Dictionary

Dictionary.com announced it has updated 7,600 words and definitions to reflect the impact of social justice movements and Covid-19. Buzz60's Johana Restrepo has more.

Author: 11alive.com

Published: 12:34 PM EST March 11, 2021

Updated: 12:00 PM EST March 11, 2021

Translation workshop set up to celebrate China-Pakistan ties - Chinadaily USA - Translation

Guests attend the launch ceremony of the "China-Pakistani Cultural Translation Workshop" online on March 10, 2021. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

On March 10, the Sino-Pakistani Translation Workshop, jointly organized by Chinese Culture Translation & Studies Support Network, Social Science Literature Publishing House and Beyond the Horizon PVT Media Co., Ltd., was launched in Beijing.

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan, the workshop aims to further promote the implementation of cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan, promote the translation and publication of books between the two countries and deepen mutual understanding between the two peoples.

Xu Baofeng, executive vice president of BRI Research Institute in Beijing Language and Culture University and head of CCTSS, said the workshop emphasizes communication and cooperation. This allows Chinese and foreign translators to utilize their cultural backgrounds and break regional and cultural barriers to provide solutions to translation problems existing in the current market.

Guests attend the launch ceremony of the "China-Pakistani Cultural Translation Workshop" online on March 10, 2021. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

In addition, the workshop gathers Pakistani sinologists, translators and China-Pakistan publishing organizations to introduce Chinese books in Pakistan and promote bilateral exchanges in the cultural field.

An Qiguang, former Chinese counselor to Pakistan, said in his speech China and Pakistan are role models for diplomatic relations, and book translation will play a great role in strengthening understanding between the two peoples.

Zamir Ahmed Awan, former Pakistani Counselor to China, Ahmad Jawad, CEO of Beyond the Horizon PVT Media Co., Ltd. and Wang Limin, President of Social Sciences Academic Press, delivered speeches at the event. Syed Hasan Javed, Director of China Studies at the Center of National University of Science and Technology in Islamabad, Pakistan, sent a video message of congratulations.

Li Yanling left, president of Social Sciences Academic Press, and Zafar Hussain, representative from the Nigarshat Publishing House, sign a contract for publishing the Urdu version of The Rise of China and the Construction of Asian Regional Market. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

Li Yanling, president of the International Publishing Branch of Social Sciences Academic Press, Ouyang Dong, deputy general manager of China Architecture Publishing Media Co., Ltd., Wang Huiren, editor-in-chief of Baihua Literature and Art Publishing House and Gong Haiyan, vice president of East China Normal University Press, introduced the Urdu language books of each publishing house.

Guests pose for a group photo at the launch ceremony of the "China-Pakistani Cultural Translation Workshop" on March 10, 2021. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

Cisco Adds Real-Time Translation to Webex Video Meetings - PCMag - Translation

Photo: Cisco

Video conferencing has become a very important way of doing business during the pandemic. Now Cisco is making it even easier to chat with people around the world, even if they don't understand what you're saying.

The company has just rolled out a new preview feature for Webex meetings which allows for real-time translation of speech into text. It means someone who doesn't understand what is being said by the speaker will have access to subtitles presented in real-time in their language of choice. It's also highly unlikely their language won't be available as Cisco has implemented support for 108 languages so far.

"The inclusive features of Webex help create a level playing field for users regardless of factors like language or geography. Enabling global Real-Time Translations is another step toward powering an Inclusive Future, and an important component of driving better communication and collaboration across teams." said Jeetu Patel, SVP and GM Security and Applications, Cisco. "AI technologies play an integral role in delivering the seamless collaboration, smart hybrid work and intelligent customer experiences that Cisco is known to deliver."

Cisco expects the real-time translation feature to be tested thoroughly for the next couple of months before becoming generally available to Webex users at some point in May. The company also points out that the real-time text-to-speech system can benefit hearing-impaired participants.

Read the English translation of Selena Gomez's Buscando Amor lyrics - PopBuzz - Translation

11 March 2021, 13:44

The meaning behind Selena Gomez's 'Buscando Amor' lyrics explained.

Selena Gomez's debut Spanish-language EP, Revelación, is finally here but what do her 'Buscando Amor' lyrics mean?

'Buscando Amor' is the second track on Revelación and Selena previously said on Instagram Live that it's one of her favourite songs on the EP. 'Buscando Amor' directly translates to 'Looking for Love'. However, the song is actually about the opposite of that. Instead of looking for love, Selena is singing about going out just to have fun.

READ MORE: 13 hidden meanings in Selena Gomez's De Una Vez music video

In the second verse, Selena sings: "Solo estamo' vacilando, baby, no estamo' buscando anillo", which means: "We're just partying, baby, we aren't looking for rings". In the chorus, she adds: "No están buscando na', 'tan bien así como están", which means: "They aren't looking for anything, they're happy just as they are."

What do Selena Gomez's Buscando Amor lyrics mean? Read the full English translation below.

Selena Gomez Buscando Amor lyrics: English translation. Picture: @selenagomez via Instagram, Interscope Records

Selena Gomez - 'Buscando Amor': English Translation

INTRO
They go out so they can see her
They get lost in the rhythm
They aren't looking for love
They aren't looking for love

VERSE 1
Let the rhythm take you over
That's how I like it, just like that
There's more to do tonight, I don't limit myself
The music is good and I don't resist

CHORUS
They go out so they can see her because she likes to dance
They get lost in the rhythm, they start to forget
They aren't looking for anything, they're happy just as they are
Don't talk to her about love, that's not going to fly
They go out so they can see her because she likes to dance
They get lost in the rhythm, they start to forget
They aren't looking for anything, they're happy just as they are
Don't talk to her about love, that's not going to fly

VERSE 2
Today we're going out incognito
We're going to get into trouble
We're just partying, baby, we aren't looking for rings
When they play the music we go hard
Who doesn't like a Latina dancing to reggaetón?
Come if you want to taste it, leave if you're going to fall in love

BRIDGE
We won't stop until dawn
The party is over if we go
With our phones off

CHORUS
They go out so they can see her because she likes to dance
They get lost in the rhythm, they start to forget
They aren't looking for anything, they're happy just as they are
Don't talk to her about love, that's not going to fly
They go out so they can see her because she likes to dance
They get lost in the rhythm, they start to forget
They aren't looking for anything, they're happy just as they are
Don't talk to her about love, that's not going to fly

OUTRO
They go out so they can see her
They get lost in the rhythm
They aren't looking for love
Leave if you're going to fall in love (They aren't looking)
Leave if you're going to fall in love

Speaking to Zane Lowe on Apple Music about Revelación Selena explained: "This has been something I've wanted to do for 10 years, working on a Spanish project, because I'm so, so proud of my heritage."

Check out the English translations of Selena's other Revelación tracks below.

Read the English translation of Selena Gomez's De Una Vez lyrics

Read the English translation of Selena Gomez's Baila Conmigo lyrics with Rauw Alejandro

Read the English translation of Selena Gomez's Selfish Love lyrics with DJ Snake

Cisco Webex Breaks Through Language Barriers and launches Real-Time Translation - Business Review - Translation

Eliminating language barriers is a key step to enabling a truly global, hybrid workforce. To help, today Cisco announced the availability (in preview beginning this month) of its real-time translation feature while also dramatically expanding the language library from 10+ to more than 100 languages.

Users can create their own personalized Webex meeting experience  by quickly and easily self-selecting the language of their choice from the most commonly used languages, such as Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish, as well as more localized languages such as Danish, Hindi, Malay, Turkish, Vietnamese, including Romanian. The personalized language experience provides a path through one of the major hurdles in global business – the language barrier. Now users can engage more fully in meetings, translating from English to 100+ other languages, enabling teams to communicate more effectively with each other, and opening new opportunities for businesses to build a more inclusive, global workforce.

For businesses, there’s a talent and cost benefit. The feature enables businesses to focus on finding the best talent regardless of wherever they call home or their native language. And a recent report from Metrigy on intelligent virtual assistants found that nearly 24% of participants have meetings that include non-English native speakers and of these, more than half have been using third-party services to translate meetings into other languages (incurring an average cost of $172 per meeting). Integrating intelligent virtual meeting assistants with language translation capabilities significantly reduces or even eliminates this cost entirely.

“The inclusive features of Webex help create a level playing field for users regardless of factors like language or geography. Enabling global Real-Time Translations is another step toward powering an Inclusive Future, and an important component of driving better communication and collaboration across teams.” said Jeetu Patel, SVP and GM Security and Applications, Cisco. “AI technologies play an integral role in delivering the seamless collaboration, smart hybrid work and intelligent customer experiences that Cisco is known to deliver.”

Webex has a rich history of helping employees innovate and remain productive wherever they are. Since the pandemic, Webex has not only continued to help businesses thrive, it has also been an integral platform for governments to continue to lead remotely, doctors to meet with patients safely, and educators to teach students at a distance. It’s clear that the future of work will involve a combination of remote and on-site interactions, known as hybrid-work. Cisco has a clear vision of how technology can help customers realize that future today and create a more inclusive world for all, by enabling a better Webex experience.