Top Stories
(2007-09-23)
Dictionary
(Steve Carmody, Michigan Radio)
Green jargon is catching on in the English language.
The latest edition of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary includes the phrase "carbon footprint," along with "carbon-neutral," and "emissions trading," which is the buying and selling of permits for CO2.
The dictionary's editor says it reflects a growing concern with climate change and the trendiness of being green.
A change in the rules this year means there are a lot more new words and phrases than in the past. Among them are "manbag," which is a male handbag, and such terms as "take a chill pill," "less is more," and "the new black."
A lot of new words from foreign languages are food-related, including the Vietnamese soup, pho (foh), the Spanish fried dessert, churro (CHOO'-roh), and an Indian dessert known as kheer (keer).
Also making the list of new words is "yummy mummy." That's descriptive shorthand for attractive mother.
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