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Over the last couple of years we toured the world of Englishes many times over. In 2010, country by country, accent by accent, loan word by … you get the picture. In 2011, our enquiries changed focus to look at English in context: what language do we use in business, in a romantic situation, or online, and in other contexts?
2013 brings another change of focus to Macmillan Dictionary. The It's your English! 2013 campaign promotes easy accessibility and interactive learning for everyone. Macmillan Dictionary offers fantastic free tools such as interactive language games and widgets for browsers and websites.
As part of this year's campaign we're also celebrating the move from print to online, 10 years of BuzzWords and our crowdsourced Open Dictionary.
In our brand-new series, called 'Stories behind Words', over on Macmillan Dictionary Blog, regular and new contributors will share their stories throughout the year about words (or phrases) which have had an impact on their lives.
Freelance lexicographer, dictionary editor, and reference book author Andrew Delahunty shares his story of the word blagrant:
… My father, who was an exuberant talker and storyteller, used to conflate words, creating inadvertent coinages on the fly in the middle of a conversation or anecdote. He tended not to notice that he'd done it, but my brothers and I, and Mum, would pounce on them with glee.
One time he mentioned someone's razier-like wit, presumably wit as sharp as both a razor and a rapier simultaneously. On another occasion he described a group of late-night revellers as legloose, a lovely, carefree, loose-limbed, slightly squiffy mixture of footloose and legless. … read more
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using the Internet where you work, during working hours, for activities which are not work-related
BuzzWord Articlea substance that scientists think exists out in space, but for which they have no direct proof
Open Dictionary
… to reveal a small part of your intentions in order to attract support, without actually committing yourself to doing anything
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A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.
global English and language change from our blog
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