Some MacGyver solutions, while others feel hangry

Upon being struck by an unforeseen hazard many people improvise a way out. What if we begin to 'MacGyver' solutions to crises? Semantically, we can do that from now on, in the same way as we can declare ourselves 'hangry':  angry because of being hungry. The English-speaking world these days defines Britain's possible exit from European Union as Brexit, and that of Greece from eurozone as Grexit. These words belong to a list of 1,000 that lately have found their place in the online version of Oxford English Dictionary. They include words like 'bhelpuri', 'carcade', 'churidar', 'comedising', decision (verb), 'internaut' etc. The new meaning of 'manspread' (verb) is the practice of sitting in public transport with legs wide apart.
Many hope to see these entries in wide circulation in the English-speaking regions in a short time. The online edition of the dictionary takes in words, phrases and idioms from social life, world politics, culture, sport and lots of other areas. Apart from the terms and expressions in English, those from other languages are also generously absorbed in the language. However, most of these words and idiomatic uses come from the prevailing trends, pop culture and coinages made by particular groups of people. Slang usages are seemingly a treasure-trove of new words. A few years ago the small word 'meh' triggered lots of rumpus due its multi-layer meanings. However, the most widespread use of 'meh' was found in the expressions of 'lack of interest', 'indifference' or 'boredom'. Thus the improvisations done by MacGyver, hero of the 1980s TV action-adventure serial about the exploits of a secret agent, cast a spell of sorts on the serial's viewers. MacGyver's ingenuity in innovating tools of defence against fully armed enemies was a spectacle indeed. He would use small knife, branches of a tree, screwdriver or a nail puller to make weapons to overpower a group of formidable enemies. Thus the amazing way of improvisation came to be known as MacGyvering in slang expressions. Some older words like it have long been integral to English. The adjectives 'platonic' and 'Machiavellian' are two powerful terms in the language. They have their circuitous origins in philosopher Plato and Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer Niccolo Machiavelli. The origin of the frequently used verb 'plague' could be traced to the dreadful European disease of plague.
As the English language is highly eclectic, it liberally absorbs dialects, folk and alien expressions. As a corollary, the twentieth century dictionaries of this language began getting fatter with every new edition. Thanks to the continued expansion of the frontiers in every sphere of life, coinage and use of terms and expressions have kept increasing. Words such as 'mantra', 'guru', 'dharna', 'hartal' from the languages of the sub-continent have already entered the English dictionaries. 'Selfie' appeared in the English lexicons in 2013. Oxford Dictionaries declared it the International Word of the Year 2013. English newspapers around the world keep coining words. The terms may not have made it to the conventional English language dictionaries, but these publications and their writers continue to use them. Prolonged use of a word or expression paves the way for its entry in dictionaries. The slang 'ganjapreneurs', meaning the cannabis communities promoting marijuana inhalation, is used these days in American newspapers and magazines. So is the Australian slang expression 'as happy as a bastard on Father's Day'. It means unhappy or depressed.
Except the dying languages, almost all major languages nowadays have dictionaries of different types. Monolingual lexicons are primarily focused on defining the words used in the respective languages. Later they turn to the present world's dominating tongues, such as English, Spanish, French, and also Dutch and Portuguese. English comes first, as it is now popularly recognised as the de facto global language.
Given the fact, the living languages keep compiling dictionaries showing what meaning their own words carry against those in English, and vice versa. This endeavour is generally found in former British colonies, like the Indian sub-continent. Likewise, languages spoken by former French and Spanish colonies put in their efforts to bring out bilingual dictionaries. These lexicons define the meanings of words in the languages of their ex-rulers. However, the great influence of English on today's world politics, business, culture and sports has prompted many other countries to publish bilingual dictionaries. They include a number of modern-day non-English economic giants and rich nations. In keeping with the fast progress in all areas of life, these nations, too, try to keep pace with English by updating their entries.
Despite its recognition as the 6th most widely spoken language in the world, Bengali has been suffering from a dearth of its own dictionaries since long. The earliest Bengali dictionary was edited by a Portuguese missionary between 1734 and 1742.  A long gap followed. The Bengali-speaking people had to wait until 1932, when the first complete monolingual Bengali dictionary came out. Called Bangiya Shabdakos, it was edited by Haricharan Bandyopadhyay on being requested by Rabindranath Tagore. However, many refer to the 19th century Shabdakalpadrum as the earliest 'Bengali dictionary'. The lexicon is primarily focused on Sanskrit words. Enthusiasts, however, come across numerous terms and rules used in both Bangla and Sanskrit in this exhaustive work. A number of Sanskrit dictionaries came out in the 19th century. They were of considerable help to the Bengalee academics and writers of the time. Besides, the period saw the publication of half a dozen Bengali-English, English-Bengali dictionaries. Their editors included Mohanprosad Thakur, John Mendis, Tarachand Chakrabarti, JD Pearson and Ram Kamal Sen. The Bengali dictionary, compiled by William Carey in 1815, is regarded as a major event in the evolution of modern Bangla. It occupied a prestigious place among the Bengalee intelligentsia of the period.
The area of dictionary publications in Bengal in the 20th century offered a scene that was quite dismal. Except Bangiya Shabdakos, the century saw only a handful of Bengali monolingual lexicons. Those included Chalantika, edited by Rajshekhar Basu, and Samsada Bangala Abhidhana, edited by Sailendra Biswas.
It's surprising to observe that the Bengalees in the erstwhile East Pakistan and Bangladesh did not have a dictionary of their own until 2000. That year Bangla Academy published its monumental Bangla functional dictionary. It was called Byaboharik Bangla Abhidana. The publication proved an instant success, as the general people as well as the academics and students welcomed the work. Its success lay in the fact that it filled the dearth of an authentic dictionary conforming to the people's unique culture. Originally edited by Dr Muhammad Enamul Huq, the dictionary's sales have continued to rise since its launch. It saw its last update in 2013. Bangla Academy has also published English-Bangla and Bangla-English dictionaries. Bengali is a language of dozens of dialects. It also has lots of slang varieties. English and American English have their dictionaries of slang. Unlike many other languages, Bangla-speaking people in Bangladesh can deservedly boast of its dictionary of dialects, that also includes slang expressions. It is called Ancholik Bhasar Abhidhana. The two-part dictionary was edited by linguist Dr Muhammad Shahidullah.
     The hearty picture notwithstanding, the area of Bangla dictionaries is far from being a mature one. More dictionaries containing Bangla words, idioms, dialects and slangs should have been published in the last four decades. At the same time, faster updates by including newer words in the existing lexicons would have added to the language's strength.
Many would liken dictionaries to a mirror, as the lexicons reflect the view of a nation's basic self. Bypassing the newer folk words and expressions in dictionaries will only present a partial view of this inner identity.
shihabskr@ymail.com