Expect cheers among hardcore online gamers when they learn Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year. Or, more accurately, expect them to "w00t."
"W00t," a mix of letters and numbers used by gamers to express happiness or triumph, topped all other terms in the dictionary online poll for the word that best sums up 2007.
Merriam-Webster's president, John Morse, said "w00t" was an ideal choice because it blends a fanciful idea and new technology.
PHOTO: MICHAEL KEARNEY, TAIPEI TIMES
"It shows a really interesting thing that's going on in language. It's a term that's arrived only because we're now communicating electronically with each other," Morse said.
"W00t" was among 20 nominees in a list of the most-searched words in Merriam-Webster's online dictionary and most frequently submitted terms from users of its "open dictionary."
Gamers often substitute numbers and symbols for the letters they resemble, said Morse, creating what they call "l33t speak," that's "leet" when spoken, short for "elite" to the rest of the world.
The word also is familiar from the 1990 movie Pretty Woman, in which Julia Roberts startles her date's upper-crust friends with a hearty "Woot, woot, woot!" at a polo match.
People who like to "l33t speak" often substitute a "7" for the final "t," expressing a "w007" of victory, an "in your face" of sorts, when they defeat an online gaming opponent.
The choice did not make Allan Metcalf, an English professor at MacMurray College, say "w00t."
"It's amusing, but it's limited to a small community and unlikely to spread and unlikely to last," Metcalf said.(AP)
線上電玩迷得知今年韋氏字典的年度單字一定會高聲歡呼,或者更精準地說,他們會「w00t」。
「w00t」這個單字由字母和數字結合而成,電玩族用來表達開心或勝利的意思。這個字在韋氏字典的網路票選中擊敗其他字彙,當選二OO七年度最熱門的單字。
韋氏字典社長約翰.莫斯說「w00t」是一個理想的選擇,因為它既富於幻想,又結合了新科技。
「這個字展現了語言相當有趣的發展,這個字的產生是因為現代人透過電子方式與別人溝通,」莫斯說。
「w00t」和其他十九個字並列韋氏線上字典最熱門搜尋字,同時也是該網站「開放字典」最常被使用者新增的辭彙。
莫斯說,遊戲玩家通常用類似的數字和符號來代替字母,創造他們自己的「l33t speak」。「l33t」的讀音是「leet」,是「elite」的縮寫,對世界上其他人來說就是菁英的意思。
這個單字也在一九九O年的電影《麻雀變鳳凰》中出現過,片中茱莉亞.羅勃茲在馬球比賽上盡興地「喲嗚!」讓她男伴的上流社會朋友大吃一驚。
「菁英語言」的使用者常會用數字「7」取代字尾的字母「t」,遊戲玩家在線上遊戲中擊敗對手用「w007」表達勝利的喜悅,頗有「挑釁」的意味。
美國麥克姆瑞大學的英語教授艾倫.麥卡夫並不認同「w00t」的使用。
「這很有趣,但僅限於一個小族群,不太可能會被廣泛使用,也不太可能會持續下去,」麥卡夫說。(美聯社/翻譯:袁星塵)
When it comes to movies, some people delight in watching spine-chilling horror films. Surprisingly, apart from containing a few scares, horror movies may also offer an unexpected __1__. According to a study, watching 90 minutes of a scary movie can burn an average of 113 calories, which is roughly __2__ to taking a 30-minute walk. Researchers from the University of Westminster carried out an experiment in which they __3__ participants’ oxygen intake, carbon dioxide output, and heart rates while they were watching horror movies without any distractions. The results revealed that physiological responses to fear play a crucial role
Bilingual Story is a fictionalized account. 雙語故事部分內容純屬虛構。 Echo pulled out a worn and tattered shoe box under father’s large oak desk. “Mariko, what should we do with these family photos?” Mariko stared at the old box with a slightly hurt expression, and then blankly at the photos. “Throw them in the garbage pile. . . along with that old, ratty box,” she murmured. She resented that her father had not cared enough to find a nicer home for the family photos. “Father never really cared about me anyway.” Echo’s emotion sensor detected sorrow. ”Mariko, that is
In the vast landscapes of Australia, a unique and charming creature roams — the “wombat.” These round, adorable animals possess surprising abilities and fascinating traits that never fail to amaze. Let’s explore the world of this remarkable creature. Wombats are marsupials native to Australia, measuring around one meter in length and weighing between 20 and 35kg. Their fur varies in color, ranging from brown to gray to black. As herbivores, they primarily feed on grass, bark and roots. To adapt to Australia’s weather conditions, wombats have developed a slow metabolism and a leisurely pace. However, despite their bulky appearance,
Dos & Don’ts — 想想看,這句話英語該怎麼說? 1. 你覺得這部電影怎樣? ˇ What do you think of the movie? χ How do you like the movie? χ How do you think of the movie? 註︰What do you think of = What is your opinion of。 think 的受詞是 what,不能用 how。 2. 你認為哪一個歌星唱得最好? ˇ Which singer do you think is the best? χ Do you think which singer is the best? 註︰英語中 which singer 似乎是 do you think 的受詞,實則 do you think 是插入語,其他例子如下: 你以為他喜歡誰? Who do you think he likes? 你以為我住在哪裏? Where do you think I live? 你想我昨天在公園裏碰到了誰? Whom/Who do you think I met in the park yesterday? 3. 他不論到什麼地方,總是帶著一把雨傘。 ˇ No matter where he goes, he