2006-10-23 09:12:37 · 4 answers · asked by Big Blue 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
It depends on who you consider the authority on the English language.
The most complete dictionary of the English language is the Oxford English Dictionary, also known as the OED. Generally, for the OED to accept a new word, they have to have sufficient evidence that the word has been used in many contexts over time. In other words, a word has to be in use for quite a while and quite widely before they will put it in the dictionary. The OED only recently got an American editor on staff, so before that time, there were many uniquely American words that were not included in the dictionary.
The American Dialect Society, an organization of linguists who study American English, has a vote at their convention every year on the new words that they think are the best. You can see entries of these words at this link:
http://www.americandialect.org/index.php/amerdial/categories/C178/
The reason there is no real answer to your question is that languages are not "officially" created by anyone. Everyday speakers, users of language, create new words when they need them. If somebody happens to make a word "official" in some way, it's only after that word has been in use for a while. There is no one organization or body that is considered to be the source of official English. So words are created, and if people find them useful, they use them, and they become part of English. Every dictionary has a different group of editors and they decide which words they think should go into their dictionary, but all dictionaries are different. This process is relatively slow in comparison to the amazing creativity of everyday speakers in their everyday lives.
2006-10-23 17:19:55 · answer #1 · answered by drshorty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
American "English" is something that has evolved through the years ranging from different words brought here by the immigrants.
2006-10-23 16:21:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know, but I think it's an interesting question. I believe it's not about time, but about usage. For example, the Merriam Webster dictionary recently added "google" as a verb.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,39020369,39278336,00.htm
2006-10-23 16:25:20 · answer #3 · answered by Karin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can't say fo shizzle.
2006-10-23 16:14:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋