Greg Ponesse — July 11, 2006 — Pop Culture
References: mywesttexas
Need tips on how to groom a unibrow or soul patch?
Just google it. Or get a mouse potato to do it for you.
If you're still lost, grab the latest edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary for a definition of those and about 100 other words that have made their way into its pages.
But be warned: you might come across a drama queen (a person given to often excessively emotional performances or reactions), an empty suit (an ineffectual executive), or a himbo (an attractive but vacuous man -- think "male bimbo".)
"We try to have a mix that addresses the wide range of people's information needs when adding new words," said John Morse, president of the Springfield-based dictionary publisher. "It could be a technical term or some light-hearted slang that sends people to a dictionary."
To make it into the dictionary, a word has to be more than a flash-in-the-pan fad. It needs staying power.
Just google it. Or get a mouse potato to do it for you.
If you're still lost, grab the latest edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary for a definition of those and about 100 other words that have made their way into its pages.
But be warned: you might come across a drama queen (a person given to often excessively emotional performances or reactions), an empty suit (an ineffectual executive), or a himbo (an attractive but vacuous man -- think "male bimbo".)
"We try to have a mix that addresses the wide range of people's information needs when adding new words," said John Morse, president of the Springfield-based dictionary publisher. "It could be a technical term or some light-hearted slang that sends people to a dictionary."
To make it into the dictionary, a word has to be more than a flash-in-the-pan fad. It needs staying power.
Trend Themes
1. Digital Information Access - The inclusion of 'google' and 'mouse potato' in the dictionary indicates the trend of relying heavily on digital platforms for information access.
2. Slang and Informal Language - The addition of informal words like 'drama queen' and 'himbo' reflects the trend of embracing and mainstreaming slang and informal language in formal settings.
3. Cultural Relevance - The dictionary's inclusion of words like 'unibrow' and 'soul patch' shows the trend of acknowledging and documenting cultural phenomena and trends in language.
Industry Implications
1. Digital Technology - The increasing reliance on digital platforms for information access presents opportunities for innovation in digital technology and internet-based services.
2. Publishing and Content Creation - The mainstreaming of slang and informal language creates opportunities for content creators and publishers to cater to a diverse linguistic landscape.
3. Language and Culture Studies - The recognition and documentation of cultural phenomena in language offer opportunities for researchers and educators in the field of language and culture studies.
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