This new edition of the well-received
Canadian Oxford Dictionary (COD), published in 1998, includes many additions to Canadian and standard English. The preface states that more than 5,000 new words have been added, particularly in the information technology and alternative medicine fields. More than 200 new Canadian terms have also been identified and added; altogether, the dictionary defines 2,200 Canadian words and senses.
As with the previous edition, definitions are arranged so that the meaning most familiar to Canadians comes first. New to this edition are preferred word breaks and parts of speech that are written in full instead of being abbreviated. Part of the fun in a guide to Canadian English is checking the differences between standard American and Canadian pronunciations and spellings: schedule is pronounced skedule and red is a color on the American side of the border, but schedule and colour prevail on the Canadian side. Chesterfield, gold eye, jam buster, and other Canadian expressions and words will be found here, as will new words and terms known more widely, such as supersize and weapon of mass destruction. The COD also includes short entries for proper nouns and names of more than 1,400 Canadian places and 850 Canadian people as well as people and geographical locations from around the world. Like the first edition, the second concludes with several appendixes: a six-page style guide, a list of the prime ministers and governors general of Canada, weights and measures (Canada measures using the metric system), a short history of the English language, and the Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, and Russian alphabets.
The COD is a must for any U.S. library close to the Canadian border and for academic institutions with Canadian studies programs (or programmes). Canadian libraries will want to update their reference collections with this latest edition, which is also a worthy edition to any Canadian home reference collection. Terri Tomchyshyn
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Review
Praise for the Canadian Oxford Dictionary:
"...a unique reference book for all Canadians: an essential tool for anyone writing for Canadian readers; and a book I know I will consult endlessly." Robert MacNeil,Time Magazine
"...with the arrival of[The Canadian Oxford Dictionary] - perhaps the mother of all Canuck compilations - the Canadian dictionary world is about to take a step forward." Edmonton Journal
"...an absolute must for every Canadian wordsmith." Peter Mansbridge, CBC "The National"
"The best Canuck wordbook yet, eh? We can all write and speak a bit more confidently with the arrival of The Canadian Oxford Dictionary..." The Globe and Mail
"The COD [Canadian Oxford Dictionary] is a must for any US library close to the Canadian border...Canadian libraries will want to update their reference collections with this latest edition, which is also a worthy edition to any Canadian home reference collection." --Booklist