The meaning of everything

When it comes to finding out the meanings of words, complex or simple, and how they are used, dictionaries are our go-to guides. One such wordfinder is The Oxford English Dictionary (OED), which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. When the idea for the dictionary was first mooted in 1857, it served as a way to record the history of every word used in the English language since the ninth century. It also acted as a way to observe how their forms and meanings changed over time.

Though it was a source of valuable information, the multi-volume first edition of the dictionary was not accessible to all. So, as times changed, it shifted to being electronic: first as a CD-ROM and then online. “This brings it within reach of millions of people, in a way that the original paper dictionary could never have been. This change has also meant that a much wider range of people now use the dictionary,” says Peter Gilliver, associate editor.

This also means that the way words are documented has also changed. “When work on the OED began, the only way to collect data was, essentially, for individual readers to look for examples of how particular words were used in a particular text, and then to copy out those examples in the form of a quotation written out on a slip of paper,” shares Peter. This process, today, is not so laborious thanks to the availability of searchable electronic versions of texts. However, even though sophisticated analysis techniques are used, observations made by individual readers on new words and word usages are crucial to OED’s documentation process.

“The role of an editor is to collate the available evidence on the use of a word across the whole sweep of English, from 1150 to the present day, and to produce an entry which tells, as accurately as possible, the history of the word’s senses and its development, along with clear definitions and examples of usage,” elaborates Jonathan Dent, senior assistant editor. It doesn’t stop there: they also have a number of people supporting them to update an existing entry and drafting new entries. These include etymologists who investigate and explain the origins of each word and bibliographers who check if the evidence for each word is clear and accurate. So, how has the position evolved? “One of the biggest differences between the editorial role now and in the nineteenth and much of the twentieth centuries is the greater freedom that electronic editing tools, online resources, and digital publication give us,” says Jonathan.

Additionally, with dictionaries now going online, it has given many dictionary editors to be, “much more responsive in updating the dictionary and reflecting changes in the language, and also in seeking help and input from the public through our appeals,” adds Jonathan.

It is not just online tools that dictionaries like OED are adapting to. They are also taking into account how it is used in countries where English is spoken. “Each word in the OED is like a little window into the everyday realities of English speakers all over the world,” says Danica Salazar, World English Editor.

Words where you are

Additionally, with so many languages being spoken in India, it is of little wonder that the language has adapted to the needs of the speakers. In fact, the addition of 70 words distinctive to Indian English in the OED last year reflects this. These recently published Indian English words join the 900 or so Indian words already covered by the OED. “We believe that including words from all world varieties of English enables the OED to tell a more complete story of the language,” adds Danica. “The sheer number and variety of these words reflect the unique culture, history, and identity of the various communities all over the world that use English in everyday communication.”

Given that India speaks a wide variety of languages, it is only natural that English absorbs words from local languages. Some of the Indian words that find a place in the OED are jugaad, dadagiri, achcha, bapu, didi and anna.

As a way to find out more about these regional English words, OED has launched the ‘Words Where You Are’ initiative online. For this, OED has asked English speakers from all around the world to submit words particular to their region (through bit.ly/2HZG107 or the hashtag, #wordswhereyouare, on Twitter). Launching such initiatives has helped them track words that may not be always found in print, says Eleanor Maier, associate editor. “In recent years, resources like Twitter have been a great way for us to monitor the words that people are using informally in particular parts of the world and this, combined with appeals such as Words Where You Are, allows more of these words to be identified and researched,” says Eleanor. This has enabled them to get a comprehensive view of how English is used across the world and how it has evolved over time.

With so much having happened since the time that the dictionary was launched, OED has been able to record the twists and turns that the English language has experienced. So, it is of little wonder that dictionaries stand as our go-to guides, online or offline.