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'Beer' words in the OED, with Fiona McPherson

Nov 14, 2024

Fiona McPherson, a Senior Editor at the Oxford English Dictionary, sheds light on the newly added beer-related words like "boozeroo" and "beerage." She dives into the fascinating history behind these terms, revealing their surprising origins and cultural significance. Fiona discusses how language evolves with trends, the playful connections among words, and the role of digital resources in modern lexicography. She emphasizes the importance of documenting even obsolete words, showcasing the OED's commitment to preserving the richness of the English language.

28:28

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Episode guests

Fiona McPherson

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The Oxford English Dictionary's recent update includes new beer-related terms reflecting cultural evolution, such as 'boozeroo' and 'beerage.'

Fiona McPherson emphasizes that the OED preserves all words, illustrating how language adapts and documents historical societal attitudes toward beer and drinking.

Deep dives

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Intro

2min

The Evolution of Beer in Language

5min

Playful Language Connections

6min

The Language of Beer: A Historical Exploration

14min

The Digital Evolution of Language Documentation

4min

Exploring Beer Words and the OED's Evolution

2min

1031. This week, Fiona McPherson from the Oxford English Dictionary talks about the latest “beer” words added to the OED, from “boozeroo” to “beerage.” We discuss how these words are chosen, the fascinating history behind them, and why some have surprising origins. Fiona also explains how digital resources have transformed lexicography and shares why the OED preserves every word in the language, even obsolete ones.

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