Texting and e-mails shape dictionary

About 1000 new words have entered our language since the last edition of the Collins English Dictionary came out two years ago, reports EDP24.com.

Many reflect our growing obsession with celebrities and a youth culture where cutting edge communication, via txt, e-mail and chatrooms has abbreviated the way we talk to our colleagues, relatives – or M8s.

"Jeremy Butterfield, editor-in-chief of Collins Dictionaries, said the mass media and celebrities were now two of the biggest influences on the evolving English language.

Some new words and terms:

-- ROTFL – text messaging/e-mail term, 'rolling on the floor laughing'.
--mother-out-law – mother of ex-husband or wife.

-- Tin, now an adjective as well as a type of metal or baked bean receptacle, apparently means 'true to its word' – ie, it does exactly what it says on the tin, like the TV advert for varnish.

-- 'You are the weakest link' is another example. When the programme was at its height, people were using that in all kinds of contexts.”

emily | 8:16 AM | Do you speak SMS? |
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