Merriam-Webster's Collegiate(R) Dictionary 2008 Update Now Available Online
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- If you have ever misheard a
song or poem and come up with your own version of the words, you are
already familiar with the concept of the "mondegreen," one of over 100 new
words included in the annual update of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate(R)
Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. Mondegreen-a noun defined as a word or phrase
that results from a mishearing of something said or sung-was first coined
by author Sylvia Wright in 1954, when she wrote an article for Atlantic
magazine confessing to a childhood misinterpretation of the Scottish ballad
"The Bonny Earl of Moray." When she first heard the lyric "they had slain
the Earl of Moray and had laid him on the green," she felt terribly sorry
for the "poor Lady Mondegreen." The tradition has been going strong ever
since, from "The ants are my friends," a mangling of "The answer, my
friends," by Bob Dylan, to "There's a bathroom on the right," a bungling of
"There's a bad moon on the rise," by Creedence Clearwater Revival.
To celebrate the release of this year's new entries, Merriam-Webster
OnLine (Merriam-Webster.com) is inviting the general public to submit their
own favorite mondegreens -- both original and overheard. Submissions are
due now through July 25th, with favorites being revealed and featured
online the week beginning July 28th.
2008 also features more than a few words from the growing field of
culinary arts, from prosecco (a sparkling Italian wine) and soju (a Korean
vodka distilled from rice) to edamame (immature green soybeans) and
pescatarian (a vegetarian whose diet includes fish). Current societal
trends are reflected in this year's entries, as well. According to John
Morse, Merriam-Webster's president and publisher, webinar is "one more
example of the significant ongoing trend for electronic technologies to add
words to the language." Morse also comments on another, more ominous term:
"Norovirus being added is part of an ongoing effort to cover terms from
virology that we think the public may need to know about. Not a happy job,
but one that lexicographers have to do."
All new dictionary entries are now available online, and the 2008 print
update of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate(R) Dictionary, Eleventh Edition will
be available in bookstores across the country September 1st, 2008. Both
will feature this fresh crop of new words and phrases that have
successfully become part of the mainstream English language through
prolonged and widespread usage in a variety of publications.
Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
Merriam-Webster Inc. acquired the rights to revise and publish Noah
Webster's dictionaries in 1843. Since then, Merriam-Webster has maintained
an ongoing commitment to innovation, scholarship, and love of language.
Today, the company continues as the leader in both print and electronic
language reference publishing with reference products, learning tools, and
word games. For more information about the company, visit
http://www.Merriam-Webster.com.
Arthur Bicknell, Senior Publicist
Merriam-Webster Inc.
Phone: (413) 734-3134 ext. 119
E-mail: abicknell@Merriam-Webster.com
SOURCE Merriam-Webster Inc.
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http://www.Merriam-Webster.com
CONTACT:
Arthur Bicknell, Senior Publicist,
+1-413-734-3134, ext. 119, abicknell@Merriam-Webster.com
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