人们可能会认为，一些俚语单词，比如「hangry」、「defriend」和「adorkable」填补了英语的一些​​空白，尽管它们没有在词典中出现过。那么，究竟是谁决定这些词语可被录入神圣的词典？语言历史学家安．柯尔占引人入胜地让我们了解到词典背后的编者们，以及他们不断做出的选择。

是什么让词汇成为“真的”？

The meaning and acceptance of words like 'hangry' and 'defriend' come from how people actually use language, not from official dictionary lists. At a linguists’ conference, even playful terms like 'multi-slacking' get considered for word of the year. Dictionaries try to keep up, but every entry reflects human choices and ongoing debates. English grows through the creativity and consensus of its speakers, constantly evolving to fit new needs.

Everyday People Decide Which Words Are Real, Not Dictionaries

20 words that once meant something different