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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: slang

slang stories: 5 news summaries

Polish Meaning of New Name Embarrasses 'Syfy'

Slang for VD probably not what network had in mind for rebranding

Mar 20, 09 3:06 PM CDT
(Newser) - The much-maligned rebranding of the channel formerly known as Sci-Fi has yielded another embarrassment for the network. “Syfy”—the new name—is Polish slang for syphilis, Broadcasting & Cable reports. Native Poles, however, may be less offended by the name change than hard-core fans: Polish embassy officials say... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Poland • syphilis • science fiction • rebranding • slang • Polish

Royal Family in Another Flap Over Nickname

Princes call Indian friend 'Sooty,' deny charges of racism

Jan 13, 09 9:16 PM CST
(Newser) - Another mini-scandal is brewing over a royal nickname. It seems that Prince Charles and his two sons call an Indian member of their polo club by the moniker of "Sooty," an apparent reference to his dark skin. The object of the nickname, however, says he takes no offense,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Prince Charles • British royals • Royal Family • slang

 'Green' Tops 2008's 
 Most Annoying Terms 

'Maverick,' 'staycation,' and 'game-changer' also make appearances

Jan 1, 09 12:23 PM CST
(Newser) - Did you get your fill of mavericks this year? Or companies claiming to go green? Those words made Lake Superior State University’s list of the most overused words and phrases of 2008, the AP reports. Other annoying winners:
  • Carbon footprint
  • First dude
  • Bailout
  • Wall Street, in comparison with
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
list • university • vocabulary • neologisms • slang • 2008

 Doobly? Fipper?
 What Do You Call the Remote? 

Nearly family, remote deserves a nickname

Jun 17, 08 6:42 PM CDT
(Newser) - The English Project is looking for unique words used among friends and families, and it's found a particularly rich vein in alternative terms for the TV remote control, the Guardian of London reports. Favorites include:
  • doobly, podger, blipper
  • melly, didge, clicker
More »

MORE ABOUT:
language • TV remote control • slang

Chinese Create Slang for New Technology

Cell phone, computer make way into written and spoken Mandarin

May 28, 08 5:05 PM CDT
(Newser) - New technology has kids in China generating their own modern lingo, I.D. Magazine reports. The millennia-old Mandarin language lacks terms for things like cell phones (which go as shou ji, or "hand machine") and USB (which goes as yo pan, a word created partly phonetically), forcing users... More »

MORE ABOUT:
China • technology • language • characters • slang • Mandarin • Cantonese

5 Stories


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