Journal #21 (online)
Have you ever used Urban Dictionary, the crowdsourced collection of slang words that, according to a front-page New York Times article, is now even being used in courtrooms? After watching the TEDtalk "Go Ahead, Make Up New Words!" go read the article from the NYTimes "For the Word on the Street, Courts Call Up an Online Witness". Then read the prompt below and answer the question in the comments below. REMEMBER: Watch your spelling, grammar and punctuation. Absolutely ALL "I"s need to be capitalized or you will receive ZERO credit this time. Make this response as professional and formal as you can. |
- Are you familiar with Urban Dictionary? Have you ever looked up a word there? Have you ever contributed a word or voted for one?
- What do you think of the use of Urban Dictionary in the courtroom? Do you think it is a good way to crowdsource the street meaning of a word, or do you agree with Tom Dalzell, senior editor of The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, that it’s a “lazy person’s reference” with no authority?
- How much slang do you use in general? How much of the latest slang do you tend to adopt? Why?
- What are your favorite (printable) slang terms? Why?