3.People speak English in different parts of the world.The same words can be used in different ways,depending on where you live.People can also have completely different ways of saying the same thing.
The Oxford English Dictionary(OED) is asking the public to help it add new words.Editors want to find the regional differences in English around the world.They want to expand its record of the language.
Last year,the OED,BBC Radio and the Forward Arts Foundation teamed up to find local words in the United Kingdom.It resulted in more than 100 regional words and phrases being added to the dictionary.One was "cuddy winter",which means a left-handed person.
Now,the OED is widening its search to English speakers around the world.Eleanor Maier,an editor at OED,said the response has been great.Editors are listing a bunch of suggestions to include in the dictionary.
These include Hawaii's "hammajang" which means "in a disorderly state".Another is the word for a swimming costume,"lookers" or "duckers".It is used in Scotland.
The OED also might include the word "frog-drowner",which Americans might use to describe a downpour of rain.Another possibility is "brick".It means "very cold" to people in New Jersey and New York City.
The dictionary has already found that,depending on location,a picture hanging off center might be described as "agley".It might also be called "catawampous" or "ahoo".
"The OED aims to cover all types of English," Maier said.That includes scientific words,slang and regional language.Maier also said that it can be difficult for the OED's editors to identify regional words.The terms are more often spoken than written down.
The appeal is called Words Where You Are.It is looking for more suggestions. "We were surprised and pleased by the number of regional words we were able to include," said Maier.
(1)"Cold" is closest in meaning to
.
A.hammajang
B.dockers
C.brick
D.a(chǎn)hoo
(2)Which local word of the following is most likely from regions of the United Kingdom?
A.a(chǎn)gley
B.frog-drowner
C.cuddy winter
D.brick
(3)What can be inferred from the passage?
A.It is challenging to create a complete collection of regional words.
B.People pay little attention to the appeal for regional words.
C.People use regional words only when they are home or with close friends.
D.Having an understanding of regional words can be helpful when communicating.
(4)Which of the following can best summarize the main idea of the passage?
A.It's time to trace the source of local words.
B.The same English words can be used to say different things.
C.Oxford Dictionary aims to enlarge its collection to appeal to locals.
D.Oxford Dictionary will include more regional words from around the globe.