Games From A Dictionary (Press, 11 September 1982)

The "Concise Oxford Dictionary, Seventh Edition," published in 1982 by Oxford University Press, has been reviewed by Naylor Hillary, who notes that examining a new edition reveals shifts in human tastes and values reflected in the language. Between 1976 and 1982, the dictionary has adapted to significant changes in areas such as sexual slang, racial attitudes, computing, industrial relations, and international politics. Hillary highlights that the presence of a word in a dictionary does not equate to approval; these words may still be considered slang or vulgar, even if they are widely used. The latest edition includes controversial terms such as "wank," "wanker," "poofter" (attributed to Australian slang), "stud" (referring to a young man with sexual prowess), and "scrubber." Notably, the term "gay" is accepted in its sexual noun form, while "libber," associated with women's liberation, is absent. The political landscape’s influence is evident, as the term "ayatollah" appears following Iran's revolution, defined as a Persian term meaning "a token from God." However, the corresponding verb "nuke," as in "nuke the ayatollah," is not included. New general entries comprise "bludger" and the metaphorical use of "hiccup," while terms like "junk-food" are omitted, and "no-no," indicating something unacceptable, is introduced. The word "funky," interpreted as "fashionable," remains, though its meaning is increasingly ambiguous. The dictionary has also begun categorising words that are racially offensive with a bold "R" for identification, such as "coon," "Jap," "mick," and "wog." Interestingly, offensive terms used in New Zealand, such as "honky" and "whitey," do not carry the "R" designation. While "munt" is admitted with an "R," its Rhodesian counterpart "floppy" is left out. Hillary discusses the dictionary's awkwardness in using the abbreviation "Jap," which it labels as offensive, while also employing it to reference words of Japanese origin like "tanka" and "saki." Despite these contentious aspects, the Seventh Edition, still edited by J. B. Sykes, is regarded as the best available compact English dictionary. The new edition is slightly different in format, printed in smaller type and featuring about 100 fewer pages than its predecessor. However, despite this, it is thicker due to the heavier paper, resulting in a similar weight. In total, it boasts approximately 1,000 new entries, reflecting a fair increase for a dictionary that contains around 75,000 entries over a six-year span.

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