Do you know what adroitly means? How about phenomenological or reification?
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If you don’t, you can find out because they’re three of the 450 new words that have been added to Dictonary.com.
The online database of language has added or edited more than 7,600 entries.
That number includes hundreds of new words, 94 new definitions and 700 new pronunciations.
Lexicographer Heather Bonikowski and managing editor John Kelly said the updates touch on the COVID-19 pandemic, technology, racial justice, identity, politics and even dogs.
Twenty-three new words relating to dogs were added to dictionary.com, like Bernedoodles and Puggles.
So what do adroitly, phenomenological and reification mean?
According to dictionary.com, adroitly means “with expert or dexterous use of the hands or body; nimbly,” while phenomenological means “of, relating to, or based on observed or observable facts” and reification means “the act of treating something abstract, such as an idea, relation, system, quality, etc., as if it were a concrete object.”
France has long defended the purity of its language with an official list of permitted words, but the launch of a new online dictionary with state support on Tuesday underlines how attitudes have shifted.
For three centuries, the venerable Academie Francaise in Paris has produced state-sanctioned dictionaries that document and approve new terms or expressions.
The first version dates back to the 17th-century creation of the Academie, while work on its latest tome, the ninth, has been underway since 1986.
The backers of the new dictionary, which include French President Emmanuel Macron, are lightning quick in comparison and hope to reach many more people with an online resource based on the Wikipedia model.
"This dictionary will enable everyone who loves our language, and they are 300 million to speak it today, to appreciate its richness," Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot told a launch ceremony on Tuesday.
Called the "Dictionnaire des Francophones" (The Francophones' Dictionary), it was proposed by Macron in 2018 as a way of bringing together and celebrating the diversity of modern French.
So far, it contains around 600,000 terms and expressions, Bachelot said, but users across the world have been invited to submit suggestions that will be vetted by other users and a team of linguists.
Apart from the works of the Academie Francaise, only one other dictionary has been ordered by the French state: the Tresor de la Langue Francaise (the Treasures of the French State), by President Charles de Gaulle in 1962.
Other commercial French dictionaries, such as the Le Petit Robert and Larousse, are regularly updated.
- World French -
The project reflects how France is home to a minority of modern French-speakers, with the language more commonly used in the fast-growing populations of former colonies in Africa.
In a speech in 2018, Macron broke with tradition by saying that France needed to acknowledge that it did "not carry the destiny of the French language on its own."
"France must take pride in being ultimately a country among others which learns, speaks and writes in French, and it's this decentralisation that we need to re-think," he told an audience at the French Institute, which houses the Academie.
Macron has not given up on the global language battle, however, with the French president keen to increase funding for French language schools globally, and challenging the use of English in the European Union.
Bernard Cerquiglini, who was asked to lead the dictionary project, told the magazine Express that the dictionary aimed to bring together online resources from Africa, Belgium, Quebec and others.
"We're building. We're going to include little by little everything that exists on the internet on the French language," he said, adding that the dictionary could reach one million entries.
Results given to a user will depend on their location, which will be detected by the search engine, meaning that a word like "baton" would show as golf club in Quebec, a cigarette in Senegal, or a penis in Ivory Coast.
"The idea is to create a dictionary of world French, and decentralised," Cerquiglini added.
Louise Mushikiwabo, the head of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), which groups French countries, proposed adding the word "techniquer" during Tuesday's ceremony, which means finding an ingenious solution on a budget in Rwanda.
Cerquiglini replied that it would be added in the afternoon.
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As a business owner of your company, you want to expand your services to new horizons and take them to new heights; you need the right connections to do so. You will need to mingle with the business owners of that region and mingle with them to provide you critical information and resources that can help you expand quickly.
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In recent years, communication between medical professionals and patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) has attracted attention and big bucks from a range of players across the US, from Google’s USD 100m investment in telehealth platform Amwell to AMN Healthcare’s USD 475m acquisition of remote interpreting provider Stratus Video (Pro).
As first covered by The Verge on March 9, 2021, a new study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine has now shifted the focus from interpreting to translation. While general materials, such as information about medical conditions and diagnoses, are typically translated in advance into commonly spoken languages, patient-specific discharge instructions present a gap that is often bridged by machine translation.
The study is a joint effort between Dr Lisa C. Diamond of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and, from Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in California, Drs Breena R. Taira and Vanessa Kreger and nurse practitioner Aristides Orue. Their goal, to objectively assess the accuracy of Google Translate for discharge instructions given patients leaving the ER.
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As the paper explains, past research on Google Translate in medical contexts has produced mixed results about usability, depending on the languages studied and the latest version of Google Translate’s algorithm.
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An article published in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2019 concluded that, for Spanish and Chinese, Google Translate could supplement but not replace written English instructions (interpreted for the LEP patient), and should include a warning about potentially inaccurate translations.
The UCLA / Sloan-Kettering study differentiates itself from others in a few key ways. The team deliberately analyzed translations into both widely spoken languages (Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, and Korean) as well as those into languages of lesser diffusion commonly spoken in their area, and thus likely to be encountered in the ER (e.g., Armenian and Farsi). Since Google Translate improves based on user feedback, it performs differently for languages of lesser diffusion versus languages with many users worldwide.
“Our accuracy rates for these two languages as assessed by volunteers from the community were almost identical […] to those of professional translators”
Another key difference is the selection of reviewers. The 20 volunteers who evaluated the English discharge instructions and translations were bilingual community members — without professional experience as linguists or as healthcare workers — which the researchers believe more accurately represents typical levels of patient comprehension of medical text. (Most other comparable studies assign this work to translators.)
Translators and Bilinguals Think Alike
The volunteers analyzed 20 free-form written patient discharge statements frequently used in the ER, and the corresponding translations into seven languages, for a total of 400 translations evaluated. Although mean scores for fluency, adequacy, meaning, and severity were high, they varied significantly by language.
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“Overall, [Google Translate] accurately conveyed the meaning of 330/400 (82.5%) instructions examined but the accuracy varied by language from 55 to 94%,” the authors wrote, describing some of the errors as “nonsensical.”
As expected, Spanish and Chinese translations were most accurate (94 and 82%, respectively), while Armenian and Farsi had accuracy rates of 55 and 67.5%.
“The difference between patient perception of machine translations and a professional translator’s perception has been an ongoing question”
The bilingual reviewers also pointed out several language-specific issues that might further impede understanding, such as the different writing systems used for traditional versus simplified Chinese, as well as differences among variants of Farsi, including Dari and Tajik. Notably for Farsi, which is written from right to left, Google Translate initially transposed the text from left to right, rendering the translations illegible.
The accuracy rates for Chinese and Spanish translations, based on community volunteers’ assessments, nearly matched those established by professional translators in the 2019 Journal of Internal Medicine study. As the researchers put it: “Our accuracy rates for these two languages as assessed by volunteers from the community were almost identical […] to those of professional translators.”
The researchers further noted: “This is important information for future work in this area as the difference between patient perception of machine translations and a professional translator’s perception has been an ongoing question.”
Citing the inconsistent performance between languages, the authors concluded, “Although the future of written translation in hospitals is likely machine translation, [Google Translate] is not ready for prime time use in the emergency department.”
For the time being, best practice relies on professional interpreters.
Ideological orthodoxy has long been a top Party priority, and in recent years digital technology has been increasingly utilized by authorities toward that goal. Xuexi Qiangguo, a slick Alibaba-made app designed to teach users Xi Jinping Thought, at one point had more than 100 million active users. The name is a double entendre, literally translating to both “study, strengthen the country,” and “study Xi, strengthen the country.” In 2019, CDT Chinese wrote about a tool called “Fuck Xuexi Qiangguo” (FXQ), which could be overlaid on the app to help users attain their “daily scores” by simulating their video watching and news reading:
In March 2019, a new “Xuexi Qiangguo points earning tool” appeared on the popular software development hosting site Github. The software was described as “a program that helps adults (and possibly also children in the future) to automate the learning process.” The software’s eye-catching name highlighted the developer’s distinctive personal attitude towards Xuexi Qiangguo. In recent years, many local government departments, businesses, and public institutions have required that employees install the Xuexi Qiangguo app, which allows users to collect points for logging in daily and participating in learning activities. [Chinese]
On March 4, after the FXQ app had been available on Github for more than two years, the developer of the “points earning tool for lazy people” announced that the tool would no longer be updated. The developer explained that he now saw little impetus for its continued development:
FXQ has already been around for more than two years, but on the occasion of 2021’s “Two Sessions,” it’s time to bid it farewell. The project received more than 7.1K stars and 1.7K forks on Github, and many people have wanted to contribute (I refused). To be honest, I’m not interested in these figures, in personal wealth, or in fame. I built this not for the purpose of gaining anything. My original motivations were pure and simple–I just wanted to make it available for the people around me, and I put it on Github so that more people could rid themselves of their mandatory ideological training, which promotes a cult of personality and fanatically controls people’s beliefs. So fuck Xuexi Qiangguo, the cult of personality must end. Please forgive me for being a little selfish, I decided to stop updating the app because the people around me were no longer required to use Xuexi Qiangguo. If people are forced to use it again, I might change my mind. [Chinese]
The developer’s explanation on Github.
According to netizens, completing the four tasks of “logging in, reading articles, learning from audio-visual content, and prolonged audio-visual content learning” every day can earn users a maximum of 25 points, but there is no way to use FXQ to complete more complex tasks, such as answering questions, which can earn users a maximum of 66 points. FXQ can ensure that daily users don’t “fall behind” (earning above ⅓ of maximum points), so it is helpful for users who don’t want to use the app but are nonetheless required to.
The four main daily tasks that could be completed by the tool.
As could be expected, FXQ attracted controversy. Some “people with firm beliefs” thought that the tool should be banned because it was “opportunistic,” and believe that “studying Xi” should be done solemnly and seriously. In contrast, some who oppose the Party saw the tool as actually abetting people’s “institutionalization,” and believe that people who enter and depend on the system ought to pay the costs of being part of that system. They thought the tool didn’t change the reality of users being treated like primary school children, and only fostered the growth of the Xuexi Qiangguo monster. As early as 2019, there were government supporters in the discussion section of the project demanding the developer stop, issuing threats to report the developer toXuexi Qiangguoand the Central Propaganda Department.
In February 2020, the developer published Xu Zhangrun’s “When Fury Overcomes Fear” in the program’s Github discussion section with the aim of “a widespread awakening of conscience among ordinary party members.” This was met with ridicule and opposition, and the developer commented about ongoing preparations to immigrate.
Below is a selection of translated netizens’ comments on the FXQ Github collected by CDT Chinese Editors over the years:
z-vicoo: Hello, I am a low-level cadre at the grassroots level. I was forced by my superiors to log into 67 different Xuexi Qiangguo accounts, constantly logging in and out over and over. If I occasionally forget to log into an account, I’m scolded and reprimanded. I’m so tired. I want to ask if you could add a feature to speed up this process, because logging in and out over and over makes me want to collapse. Nevermind attaining however many points, even one point is fine. This job makes me feel like my life’s value is no more than dust, I’m begging you ~
YangQing-Lin: My school just started requiring us to use Xueqi Qiangguo today, never thought that one search would lead me to this tool. Our student party group gratefully sends you stars.
hljafg: I’m not a Party member, and have only been working a year. My manager asked me to operate his Xueqi Qiangguo account and I didn’t dare refuse. I’ve become a human robot for several days now, so tired. I’ve looked for plug-ins, but heard that they can lead to accounts being banned. I figured I’ll combine this software’s assistance with a little bit of my own learning on his phone. Hopefully I won’t end up getting my manager’s account blocked. I have a colleague who helps operate our director’s account, he helps him earn 50 points a day, so I earn 30 points a day. How can I tactfully tell him to not take it so seriously?
benladen: I support the developer, and nominate him for CCTV’s “Touching China” award.
AeneasZhu: All these internet Red Guards raising banners of patriotism, morality, positive energy… attacking people all over the place and forcing them to kneel… how did this happen, and why, even as our lives improve, are there more and more people like this? And they’re getting even more vicious, not only forcing everyone to conform to the same political opinions, worldviews, and values, but also the same sexual orientation, spousal preferences, and romantic preferences. Is it really because they cannot tolerate difference?
jmdqnm: The Xuexi Quangguo proxy services that used to be available on Taobao might have run into issues. I bought one on Taobao last month, previously 20 a year, but today when I clicked on the website it said it had been closed by admins. Almost no response for an hour now, feels like something happened.
neutronemu: I don’t want to start a war, but I want people to see clearly the perverse responses of some of these commenters, which only serves to underscore the greatness of this coder.
stonebreaker2019: (Anti-cheating plan) While using the app, you should be properly dressed and have your camera switched on. // Don’t doubt it, it’s really possible. I just discovered in the app’s “account and security” section there’s a facial recognition feature. In the event that this feature is really required in the future, it might need a few minutes to scan your face.
CT-ABT: To be honest, I want to say that of the tens of millions of Party members, not a single one… wants to be treated like a child, rushing to finish their homework every day, and they can’t continue to bear things this way. In fact, I want to ask all Party members: Seven years ago, did you think it would turn out this way? Five years ago, did you think it would turn out this way? Even three years ago, you couldn’t believe that things would turn out like this. But what have you done? Whether you are here to taunt OP, to praise OP’s high-level black achievement, or to rejoice at finding a tool for circumvention—it’s all useless. If the status quo continues to deteriorate at an accelerating speed, there will come a day when we pass beyond the point of no return. Has anyone given this any thought? [Chinese]
This post was originally published on CDT Chinese.
**Related Video Above: New words added to Oxford Dictionary in 2020.**
(WJW) — Dictionary.com has added 600 new words and definitions to its site for 2021, many of which are coronavirus-related and others taken from common vernacular.
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With the English language ever-evolving, dictionary.com, along with other dictionary companies, are constantly on the lookout for new and worthy words.
This year’s hot ones on the dictionary.com list include “supposably” (instead of “supposedly”) and “finna,” which means fixing to.
Other fresh entries included “hybrid learning” and also “second gentleman,” used for Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband.
Dog entries were on fire, including “puggles” and “yorkiepoos.” Politics, race and social media were also touched on with words like “doomscrolling” and “Critical Race Theory.”
No surprise here: Pandemic is Merriam-Webster’s top word of 2020
Find all of the new words added on Dictionary.com right here.
Several months ago, one of my columns was focused on the “Word of the Year in 2020.” The word was pandemic. And along with that one, there were other words that were introduced in 2020.
One of my readers suggested it wasn’t a new word at the time.
His reasoning was that Merriam-Webster added it to the dictionary only after it had been in almost constant use for months.
In that sense, he was correct. Now, he will have another case to make since the dictionary publisher has released not just one word of the year for 2021 but a total of 520 new dictionary words. (Merriam-Webster.com/new words)
This year’s additions include more words that are related to the pandemic which is still affecting all of us, in our homes, schools, workplaces, and indeed in the nation.
Among the new additions or sometimes updates: coworking, hard pass, cancel culture, and silver fox.
Coworking is defined as “being, relating to, or working in a building where multiple tenants rent working space and have the use of communal facilities.”
Hard pass is “…a firm refusal or rejection of something (such as an offer.)”
Cancel culture is defined as “the practice or tendency of engaging in mass canceling as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure.”
Silver fox describes “…an attractive middle-aged man having mostly gray or white hair.”
One other example labeled “Words Looking to the Future:” Second Gentleman, defined as “the husband or male partner of a vice president or second in command of a country or jurisdiction.”
That’s either enough or too much information, but if you love words, you can always check out the Merriam-Webster website when you have time and the interest.
A final thought for the day. You might want to impress your grandchildren with your newfound knowledge of trends during the pandemic. Or join the reader from a year ago to remind me that these are not all new words. Some are being recycled.
Enjoy the rest of today’s paper!
Dr. William H. Baker is a Claiborne County native and former Middlesboro resident.
