英语听力精选进阶版 7168（在线收听）

Background: 国际潮流和重大事态直接影响语言的发展，比如在国内度假 (staycation) 和呜呜祖拉 vuvuzela 就是其中的两个例子。最新版的牛津英语字典中就增加了2000个时髦词语。

The new words which have been added to the Oxford Dictionary of English all reflect global trends and events.

From the World Cup, in South Africa, who could forget the piercing monotone of the 'vuvuzela'.

Due to the credit crunch, people are forced to take holidays at home, so instead of a vacation in which you vacate the country, you stay, hence 'staycation'.

A close but non-sexual relationship between two men is a 'bromance' - a portmanteau word, from 'brother' and 'romance'. An example of this sort of relationship could be that between the leaders of Britain's coalition government, David Cameron and Nick Clegg. Oh, they could also be 'frenemies' - friends who are also rivals.

Sara Hawker is one of the editors of the Oxford Dictionary of English. She says a lot of work goes into deciding which words should be added.

"The words we include in our dictionary are all based on evidence.We have enormous databases of current English which we analyse and we only put words into the dictionary if we've got significant evidence that they are being used by different people in different contexts, so we never put anything in unless there is a lot of evidence of it being used."

Other words which are now also included are 'chillax', an amalgamation of chill and relax, so calm down. And 'buzzkill', something or someone with a dispiriting effect. Basically, they or it, kill your buzz.

But of course Twitter and Facebook have brought about 'social media', and with it 'tweet up', a meeting organised via Twitter. If the coalition between David Cameron and Nick Clegg broke down, they might go into their Facebook accounts and 'defriend' each other.

Glossary 词汇表

piercing monotone 刺耳的单音 

credit crunch 信贷危机 

bromance 兄弟情 

a portmanteau word 合成词 

amalgamation 合并 

frenemies 友敌 

significant evidence 重大证据 

chillax 放松冷静 

buzzkill 扫兴的, 泼冷水的 

dispiriting 感到扫兴的 

defriend 从好友名单上除名

Questions and Answers

1. Most of the new words come from global events and trends. True or False? 

True. They reflect global trends and events.

2. What is the basis of selecting new words for the Oxford dictionary? 

There has to be significant evidence that certain words are being used by different people in different contexts.

3. Do David Cameron and Nick Clegg work together? 

Yes, they do, as the British Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

4. Does the word 'buzzkill' have a positive ring to it? 

No, it is associated with disappointment.