Monday, January 2, 2023

Letter: Lost in translation - Financial Times - Translation

I wanted to point out something in the article “Russia at war: life without imports” (The Big Read, December 15) that I found particularly interesting.

In the paragraph talking about issues within the automotive industry your correspondents write that “the slump led officials to loosen some safety requirements over the summer for antiskid brakes and safety cushions”.

This reads like a very bad calque from the Russian where the direct translation of ABS is antiskid brakes, but airbags is directly translated as “safety cushions”.

While this is something very amusing to me as a native Russian speaker, it might have confused English-speaking FT readers.

Sergei Korolev
Los Angeles, CA, US

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Oxford English Dictionary added 18 new LGBTQ terms in 2022 - Mashable - Dictionary

Communities around the world have ushered in the New Year, tying up the loose ends of 12 months filled with both great losses and great growth. One, perhaps unsuspecting, 2022 event to reflect on? English dictionary updates. Yes, you read that right. 

The Oxford English Dictionary added a total of 18 new LGBTQ-related words in 2022 — an effort to acknowledge the diverse communities of LGBTQ people around the world, their shared and conflicting histories, and the new ways individuals speak to, write about, and organize around their identities. 

SEE ALSO: From Doge to Drake, here are 10 internet moments turning 10 in 2023

In its March 2022 update, the Oxford English Dictionary introduced select entries addressing "contemporary themes" and relevant "big issue" topics. These words included common vernacular in climate change discourse, such as "decarbonize," and popularized concepts among social justice advocates (and their detractors) like "critical race theory." The dictionary also added several new LGBTQ-related terms, including "gender-affirming" and "demisexual." 

The rest of the year followed suit, with the addition of words like "enby" (a semi-portmanteau of "non-binary") and a shared definition for new words "gender expression" and "gender presentation". The site even added more cultural slang terms, like the LGBTQ definitions of "top" and "bottom." Surprisingly, the acronym "LGBTQ" itself was among a new group of words introduced in September 2022. Better late than never?

In addition, the reference site introduced specific English terms relevant to indigenous perception of gender and sexuality. "Brotherboy” and “Sistergirl” are two new entries referring to gender presentation and identity in Australian Aboriginal communities, while "Muxe" is a gender identity phrase used by Zapotec communities in southern Mexico.

Several of the words also encapsulate the global pushback to LGBTQ existence, an unfortunate marker of 2022. The dictionary now includes additional definitions of "gender-critical" and "TERF", as well as as “anti-gay” and “anti-homosexual."

On top of a wave of updates by online reference site Dictionary.com, among others, the year seemed to receive a hearty academic acknowledgment of ongoing social activism, especially the ways in which marginalized communities influence the rest of the world's vocabulary. Let's see the trend continue in 2023, with greater nuance, and maybe a bit more haste. Just a thought.

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The world's largest English dictionary got an LGBTQ update in 2022 - AOL - Dictionary

Mashable
An illustration of an open book laying flat on its spine. A rainbow is hovering above the book.
An illustration of an open book laying flat on its spine. A rainbow is hovering above the book.

Communities around the world have ushered in the New Year, tying up the loose ends of 12 months filled with both great losses and great growth. One, perhaps unsuspecting, 2022 event to reflect on? English dictionary updates. Yes, you read that right.

The Oxford English Dictionary added a total of 18 new LGBTQ-related words in 2022 — an effort to acknowledge the diverse communities of LGBTQ people around the world, their shared and conflicting histories, and the new ways individuals speak to, write about, and organize around their identities.

SEE ALSO: From Doge to Drake, here are 10 internet moments turning 10 in 2023

In its March 2022 update, the Oxford English Dictionary introduced select entries addressing "contemporary themes" and relevant "big issue" topics. These words included common vernacular in climate change discourse, such as "decarbonize," and popularized concepts among social justice advocates (and their detractors) like "critical race theory." The dictionary also added several new LGBTQ-related terms, including "gender-affirming" and "demisexual."

The rest of the year followed suit, with the addition of words like "enby" (a semi-portmanteau of "non-binary") and a shared definition for new words "gender expression" and "gender presentation". The site even added more cultural slang terms, like the LGBTQ definitions of "top" and "bottom." Surprisingly, the acronym "LGBTQ" itself was among a new group of words introduced in September 2022. Better late than never?

In addition, the reference site introduced specific English terms relevant to indigenous perception of gender and sexuality. "Brotherboy” and “Sistergirl” are two new entries referring to gender presentation and identity in Australian Aboriginal communities, while "Muxe" is a gender identity phrase used by Zapotec communities in southern Mexico.

Several of the words also encapsulate the global pushback to LGBTQ existence, an unfortunate marker of 2022. The dictionary now includes additional definitions of "gender-critical" and "TERF", as well as as “anti-gay” and “anti-homosexual."

On top of a wave of updates by online reference site Dictionary.com, among others, the year seemed to receive a hearty academic acknowledgment of ongoing social activism, especially the ways in which marginalized communities influence the rest of the world's vocabulary. Let's see the trend continue in 2023, with greater nuance, and maybe a bit more haste. Just a thought.

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Sunday, January 1, 2023

How changing definition of words and additions to dictionaries impacts daily conversations - Free Press Journal - Dictionary

In keeping with the growing call for inclusivity in the English language, the Cambridge Dictionary has updated its entries for “man” and “woman” to include transgender people. While the British dictionary’s primary definition for “woman” remains “an adult female human being,” a second definition refers to “an adult who lives and identifies as female though they may have been said to have a different sex at birth.” Similarly, it defines “man” as “an adult male human being” and also “an adult who lives and identifies as male though they may have been said to have a different sex at birth.” An example sentence by the dictionary includes, “Their doctor encouraged them to live as a man for a while before undergoing surgical transition,” making sure to include the pronoun “they” used increasingly by non-binary persons.

Backlash from right-wing groups notwithstanding, the editors and lexicographers at Cambridge Dictionary are standing by their linguistic decision. For the uninitiated, professional lexicographers get to decide which words make it into the dictionary, and they do so by reading widely across industries and disciplines. Other dictionaries have made similar changes to terms around gender and gender identity over the years. In 2020, Merriam-Webster expanded its definition of “female” to include “having a gender identity that is the opposite of male” – that change also drew criticism from conservatives.

Gen Z in support

The additions are also an indication of the evolution of English language. “These changes reflect just how much the English language keeps growing and changing. Language is a measure of culture, but it’s also a measure of time,” says linguist and translator JV Prasad. It’s also a sign of how identity politics is creeping into the way a dictionary defines words.

However, Gen Z is celebrating these changes. “This was long overdue. Gender is an important part of our identity, and how we feel is how we identify,” says 22-year-old post-grad student Purva Gawde.

Himanshu Verma, 25, an HR executive at a tech firm, says, “Everything is changing so rapidly; language has to keep up. I am straight but I have friends who identify as trans and non-binary. They have a need to fit in as well.”

So serious are zoomers and millennials about this that last year, otherwise-beloved Harry Potter author J K Rowling faced the heat. When she mocked the use of the term ‘people who menstruate’ to define women, she was “cancelled” by many young people, including many of the actors from the Harry Potter films.

Adding new words

Lexicographers or dictionary editors read widely across mediums, and engage in a process called “reading and marking”. Once a new word or phrase has been marked, editors enter it into a computer system. They also create a citation, which includes three things: the word or phrase, an example of the word or phrase used in context and bibliographic information about its source. Before a new word can be added to the dictionary, editors must find enough citations to prove it is widely used. “Language is fluid, it adapts according to the time and culture. That’s why new words are added to official dictionaries every year,” says Prasad.

Top 10 new words added to the dictionary in 2022

Cancel Culture: The practice or tendency of engaging in mass cancelling as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure.

Flex: An act of bragging or showing off.” Here are 9 more things you should

BIPOC: Black, Indigenous, (and) People of Colour

Long hauler: A person who experiences one or more long-term effects following initial improvement or recovery from a serious illness (such as COVID-19).

Webisode: An episode of a show that may or may not have been telecast but can be viewed online.

Goblin mode: A type of behaviour which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations.

Entheogen: A psychoactive, hallucinogenic substance or preparation (such as psilocybin or ayahuasca) especially when derived from plants or fungi and used in religious, spiritual, or ritualistic contexts.

Finfluencer: A specific type of influencer who focuses on money-related topics.

ASMR: Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a relaxing, often sedative sensation that people feel on their skin; often caused by sound.

Gig worker: A person who works temporary jobs typically in the service sector as an independent contractor or freelancer.

Did you know?

Someone who coins new words is called a neologist. William Shakespeare was a veritable neologist; he’s credited with creating over 1,700 new words, including eyeball, hobnob, swagger, and zany.

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Second Phase Of Doha Historical Dictionary Of Arabic Languag... - MENAFN.COM - Dictionary

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) QNA

Doha: The Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies announced on Sunday the completion of the second phase of the Doha Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language, which extends to the year 500 AH.

First launched by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies on May 25, 2013, the dictionary gives rich lexical data to understand the historical course of the Arabic language.

The second phase of the dictionary covers around 200 thousand lexical entries. It came four years following the completion of the first phase on December 10, 2018, which extended to the year 200 AH.

The third phase of the project is intended to extend to the present day.

The project represents an open record that allows to monitor the evolving meanings of Arabic words and their structure over time, and document the history and frequency of their use, and their origin, expansion and survival.

The Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies announced that the completion of the third open phase has begun, during which the editing of lexical entries for words and meanings, and new terms and concepts used in Arabic texts from the beginning of the sixth century AH until the current era are underway. Work has been completed on preparing the open stage corpus, developing the computer platform, and updating the hardware and software to accommodate the huge text databases, manage them and use them in building the dictionary.

It should be noted that the lexicon has a Scientific Council comprising a group of senior linguists in the Arab world. The Council is concerned with issuing scientific and methodological decisions, deciding on linguistic and lexical issues, and approving lexicon materials.

The Scientific Council is chaired by Lexicographer Dr. Ramzi Baalbaki, and executively run since its inception by Linguist Dr. Azeddine Bouchiki, who supervises an executive body that includes a selected group of experts in language and terminology inside and outside Doha, in addition to a group of experts in computing and modern technologies.

Since its establishment, the Scientific Council has held three international scientific conferences, with the fourth to be held in the city of Meknes in the Kingdom of Morocco in May 2023. It has also held many training courses on dictionary creating and introductory lectures on the historical dictionary in a number of Arab and Western countries.

MENAFN01012023000063011010ID1105372883


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Oxford English Dictionary Added Over A Dozen LGBT Words In 2022 - Star Observer - Dictionary

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) adds new words into the dictionary that were used in order to keep up with the ever-evolving English language. For 2022, they added several new LGBTQ entries used by the queer community.

One of the words is the very acronym LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) was added, along with ‘tea house’ which is a term used to describe “a public toilet used by men to engage in or solicit sexual activity with other men.”

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Other new queer words added to the dictionary include:

Anti-gay and Anti-homosexual

2022 saw a rise in violence and restrictions against the LGBTQ community, so it’s no surprise that these two were among some of the ‘anti’ words added to the dictionary.

Bakla

A word borrowed from Tagalog, OED defines this as “a person registered as male at birth who identifies with or presents a feminine gender expression, typically through behaviours, occupations, modes of dress, etc., that are culturally associated with femininity.” It’s often seen as a derogatory word in Philippine English.

After the definition, OED notes that “Bakla encompasses a wide range of gendered characteristics and practices that do not correspond to heteronormative ideas of masculinity. It can often, but not always, denote homosexuality, although the term is increasingly being used as a synonym for Western terms relating to sexual orientation, such as gay and homosexual.”

Brotherboy and Sistergirl

Two new terms that bring in Aboriginal identities. OED defines brotherboy as “a person registered as female at birth who identifies with or presents a masculine gender expression, typically through behaviours, occupations, modes of dress, etc., that are culturally associated with masculinity,” while sistergirl means assigned male at birth but presents in ways seen as feminine.

Enby

A colloquial term used for a non-binary person.

Gender-affirming, Gender critical, Gender expression and Gender presentation

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Four sub-entries for the noun ‘gender’ and while three cover the topic in a positive light when it comes to gender, gender critical has two definitions with one being “critical of the concept of gender identity, or the belief that gender identity outweighs or is more significant than biological sex. In sense (b), typically distinguishing between gender (as something culturally or biologically defined) and gender identity (considered an innate individual sense).”

Multisexual

The OED defines this new word as “characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to, or sexual activity with, people of different sexes or gender identities; (now) spec. having any of various sexual orientations of this type, such as bisexual, pansexual, or polysexual.” The OED evens cites a tweet by @nyphren to further explain the new word.

Muxe

Pronounced as ‘moo-shay’, this Zapotec identity made it into the OED and is defined as “in Zapotec communities of southern Mexico: a person registered as male at birth who identifies with or presents a feminine gender expression, typically through behaviours, occupations, modes of dress, etc., that are culturally associated with femininity.”

Pangender

Pangender is defined different from pansexual and is “designating a non-binary person whose gender identity encompasses multiple genders, which may be experienced simultaneously or in a fluid, fluctuating manner; of or relating to a gender identity of this type.”

TERF

OED had noted some context for this word, noting that it was “originally used within the radical feminist movement.”

“Although the [one who coined the term in 2008] (a trans-inclusive feminist) has stated that the term was intended as a neutral description, TERF is now typically regarded as derogatory,” the OED states.

And TERF is defined as “a feminist whose advocacy of women’s rights excludes (or is thought to exclude) the rights of transgender women. Also more generally: a person whose views on gender identity are (or are considered) hostile to transgender people, or who opposes social and political policies designed to be inclusive of transgender people.”

The words ‘top’ and ‘bottom’ received new entries that centred around the bondage, domination meanings behind the words. Here’s hoping to more queer words and terms making their debut in 2023!

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‘Translate what I say, don’t add words’: Amit Shah to interpreter during public address in Karnataka - Scroll.in - Translation

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