12.23.2004
More langers than you could shake a langer at
Following years of hard graft by the Irish people, dedicated participation at the highest level of government, and focused action on the part of the the United Nations, the Irish slang word 'langer' has made it into the next edition of the Collins dictionary.
Here
It's all part of the living dictionary concept, which aims to invigorate the dusty dictionary by giving it a little Pop Idol appeal. Visitors to Collins' web site can suggest a word, make up a word, even steal two bits of other words, stick 'em together and demand inclusion in the dictionary. Seize the day!
Globe & Mail:
The concept might not satisfy the purists but it should provide more solace than the current ritual of muttering and complaining at the annual announcement of the latest words to be added to the world's leading English-language dictionaries.
The process is at its heart democratic. The latest word to be added is langer, Irish slang for idiot, drunk or penis that was fast-tracked into the dictionary after a vigorous campaign by its Hibernian advocates.
"I have never seen such passion about a single word before," said Jeremy Butterfield, editor of Collins Dictionaries. "This is exactly what the word exchange was built for and we are awed by the positive response we have had from Irish word fans."
****
In short, the Irish invent words like hubritotes bovel lerbats.
Amen.
¶ 12:06:00 PM
Here
It's all part of the living dictionary concept, which aims to invigorate the dusty dictionary by giving it a little Pop Idol appeal. Visitors to Collins' web site can suggest a word, make up a word, even steal two bits of other words, stick 'em together and demand inclusion in the dictionary. Seize the day!
Globe & Mail:
The concept might not satisfy the purists but it should provide more solace than the current ritual of muttering and complaining at the annual announcement of the latest words to be added to the world's leading English-language dictionaries.
The process is at its heart democratic. The latest word to be added is langer, Irish slang for idiot, drunk or penis that was fast-tracked into the dictionary after a vigorous campaign by its Hibernian advocates.
"I have never seen such passion about a single word before," said Jeremy Butterfield, editor of Collins Dictionaries. "This is exactly what the word exchange was built for and we are awed by the positive response we have had from Irish word fans."
****
In short, the Irish invent words like hubritotes bovel lerbats.
Amen.
¶ 12:06:00 PM
Comments:
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Hey Aishwarya,
not since Vatican II, unless camera phones are involved, in which case we revert to the ancient Brehon laws.
I forgot to mention Berhard Langer, the German golfer (current captain of the Ryder Cup time too, I think). He played in Ireland several times in the 80s and 90s and there never failed to be a kid or two shouting "Come on Langer!" "Go on yeh langer!" or some variation thereof. I have a vivid memory of him being interviewed after winning some tournament in Ireland and oblivious to what had been really going on, he bit through his tears to express his thanks for the unbelievable support the Irish crowd had shown him!
Ha!
Now if you shook a Langer at a langer, you'd be in real trouble.
Cheers,
E
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not since Vatican II, unless camera phones are involved, in which case we revert to the ancient Brehon laws.
I forgot to mention Berhard Langer, the German golfer (current captain of the Ryder Cup time too, I think). He played in Ireland several times in the 80s and 90s and there never failed to be a kid or two shouting "Come on Langer!" "Go on yeh langer!" or some variation thereof. I have a vivid memory of him being interviewed after winning some tournament in Ireland and oblivious to what had been really going on, he bit through his tears to express his thanks for the unbelievable support the Irish crowd had shown him!
Ha!
Now if you shook a Langer at a langer, you'd be in real trouble.
Cheers,
E
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