International House - Bangkok
+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2
1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 28

Thread: Is "google" now a verb?

  1. #1
    Doc
    Doc is offline
    Established User Doc has a reputation beyond repute Doc has a reputation beyond repute Doc has a reputation beyond repute Doc has a reputation beyond repute Doc has a reputation beyond repute Doc has a reputation beyond repute Doc has a reputation beyond repute Doc has a reputation beyond repute Doc has a reputation beyond repute Doc has a reputation beyond repute Doc has a reputation beyond repute
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Pattaya
    Posts
    116
    vCash
    500
    Rep Power
    68

    Is "google" now a verb?

    Is the word "google" as in

    'I googled it."
    "If you don't know just google it."
    "What results do you get if you google it?"

    now established as a koscher verb in the English Language?

    I say yes but some of my colleagues say no and I shouldn't teach it as a verb as it represents slang or grammatically incorrect English.

    So what do you, the cogniscenti, think?

  2. #2
    Exiled Liberal Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    East Coast
    Posts
    3,245
    vCash
    500
    Rep Power
    2208

    Re: Is "google" now a verb?

    Yes (in American English). If unsure, just google it. lol
    "I do not think about things I don't think about." said William Jennings Bryan.
    To which Clarence Darrow responded, "Do you think about the things you do think about?"
    Tennessee vs. John Scopes, 1925.

  3. #3
    Hangin' Around Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    UAE
    Posts
    11,485
    vCash
    525
    Rep Power
    7518

    Re: Is "google" now a verb?

    For better or for worse, it's definitely a verb in UK English.

  4. #4
    Regular User toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    1,290
    vCash
    500
    Rep Power
    2055

    Re: Is "google" now a verb?

    IME "Google" has been used as a verb for quite some time....4 years or so.

    Quote Originally Posted by Doc View Post
    some of my colleagues say no and I shouldn't teach it as a verb as it represents slang or grammatically incorrect English.
    I don't see what's wrong with teaching your students slang (and I'm not entirely certain that the term applies here), and I'd be interested to know how it is "grammatically incorrect".

    OK, I googled it.
    Though you may have been "googling" people for years, the verb you were using was technically slang, until recently.

    In fact, many regularly used tech words are just now getting the official stamp of approval from English-language dictionaries.
    On Thursday, Merriam-Webster announced its latest update, and the new science and technology words added to the venerable dictionary include agritourism, biodiesel, mouse potato, ringtone and spyware.

    And google is defined as a transitive verb meaning "to use the Google search engine to obtain information about (as a person) on the World Wide Web." While the entry retains capitalization in explaining the word's etymology--"Google, trademark for a search engine"--the verb google is lowercase.
    Google joins Xerox as a verb - CNET News.com

    BTW, the Firefox spell check doesn't recognize any of the new words listed above.

    And here's the MW link...

    google - Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
    Last edited by toong tao daeng; 7th May 2008 at 20:01. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

  5. #5
    Senior Member Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Bangkok
    Posts
    5,836
    vCash
    500
    Rep Power
    2074

    Re: Is "google" now a verb?

    I'd say so. In the same way that the brand name 'hoover' came to be a verb meaning to vacuum.

    Languages evolve. If they didn't we'd still be teaching that mad Chaucer style shit!
    Last edited by Lor Ling; 7th May 2008 at 19:29.
    I'm like that doll Chuckie, baby
    Keep comin back to live, love life like I'm crazy
    To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


  6. #6
    Pretty Like Girl WilliamBlake has a reputation beyond repute WilliamBlake has a reputation beyond repute WilliamBlake has a reputation beyond repute WilliamBlake has a reputation beyond repute WilliamBlake has a reputation beyond repute WilliamBlake has a reputation beyond repute WilliamBlake has a reputation beyond repute WilliamBlake has a reputation beyond repute WilliamBlake has a reputation beyond repute WilliamBlake has a reputation beyond repute WilliamBlake has a reputation beyond repute WilliamBlake's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Somewhere hot and wet
    Posts
    14,832
    vCash
    500
    Rep Power
    6703

    Re: Is "google" now a verb?

    If it's in the dictionary it's a word. (Words are never deleted from the dictionary by the way, once it's in, it's in.)

    How can it be 'wrong' to teach slang words anyway? Knowledge is knowledge.
    Look at them yo-yos
    That's the way ya TEFL
    You play the hang-man in a sweet EP
    No, that ain't workin'
    That's the way ya TEFL
    Get your Thai baht for nothin' and your giks for free...

  7. #7
    Senior Member Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Bangkok
    Posts
    5,836
    vCash
    500
    Rep Power
    2074

    Re: Is "google" now a verb?

    Quote Originally Posted by WilliamBlake View Post
    How can it be 'wrong' to teach slang words anyway?
    It ain't, bredren (or should that be 'blood')?
    I'm like that doll Chuckie, baby
    Keep comin back to live, love life like I'm crazy
    To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


  8. #8
    Exiled Liberal Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    East Coast
    Posts
    3,245
    vCash
    500
    Rep Power
    2208

    Re: Is "google" now a verb?

    Quick pass me some Kleenex I cut myself. I need a band aid too. I'll fax the facts later.

    Shakespeare frequently changed a words grammatical form.

    This is one of the features that makes English an international language. The ability to adapt to change, incorporate new usages, borrow from other languages, etc.
    "I do not think about things I don't think about." said William Jennings Bryan.
    To which Clarence Darrow responded, "Do you think about the things you do think about?"
    Tennessee vs. John Scopes, 1925.

  9. #9
    Established User Laowai has a reputation beyond repute Laowai has a reputation beyond repute Laowai has a reputation beyond repute Laowai has a reputation beyond repute Laowai has a reputation beyond repute Laowai has a reputation beyond repute Laowai has a reputation beyond repute Laowai has a reputation beyond repute Laowai has a reputation beyond repute Laowai has a reputation beyond repute Laowai has a reputation beyond repute
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    276
    vCash
    500
    Rep Power
    122

    Re: Is "google" now a verb?

    It's not a question of slang; it's a question of contemporary use of the English language.

    I don't particularly like My bad! or Let's party! but given that my students are likely to hear / come across such expressions when watching American movies or surfing the internet, I would be remiss not to familiarize them.

  10. #10
    Remember kikiat has a reputation beyond repute kikiat has a reputation beyond repute kikiat has a reputation beyond repute kikiat has a reputation beyond repute kikiat has a reputation beyond repute kikiat has a reputation beyond repute kikiat has a reputation beyond repute kikiat has a reputation beyond repute kikiat has a reputation beyond repute kikiat has a reputation beyond repute kikiat has a reputation beyond repute kikiat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Posts
    1,664
    vCash
    500
    Rep Power
    2630

    Re: Is "google" now a verb?

    Apparently Google is trying to prevent the name "google" to become an official verb, (as far as I know it's still not in any dictionaries) because then they can't protect their name properly anymore, anyone could start using google in a slogan, because it would be a common verb.
    Sometimes my mind wanders, sometimes it leaves completely
    To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

    To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


    I ALWAYS GIVE A 100% AT WORK:

    12% Monday
    23% Tuesday
    40% Wednesday
    20% Thursday
    5% Friday

    To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

  11. #11
    playing the field... Eric has a reputation beyond repute Eric has a reputation beyond repute Eric has a reputation beyond repute Eric has a reputation beyond repute Eric has a reputation beyond repute Eric has a reputation beyond repute Eric has a reputation beyond repute Eric has a reputation beyond repute Eric has a reputation beyond repute Eric has a reputation beyond repute Eric has a reputation beyond repute
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    soi baan farang
    Posts
    4,502
    vCash
    500
    Rep Power
    3663

    Re: Is "google" now a verb?

    Interesting. They should be able to protect their copyrighted and trademarked proper noun and keep it out of the dictionaries then.

    More than a couple Christmases ago my sister was talking smack about something she didn't know about and I blurted out "don't make me put a Google on your ass" to prove I'm right. That was the moment that the word evolved for me.
    Follow the three R’s: Respect for self Respect for others and Responsibility for all your actions.
    --Erma Bombek

  12. #12
    Regular User toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng has a reputation beyond repute toong tao daeng's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    1,290
    vCash
    500
    Rep Power
    2055

    Re: Is "google" now a verb?

    It is an interesting perspective, but surely Xerox and Kleenex have been able to protect their name.

  13. #13
    Hangin' Around Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille has a reputation beyond repute Cyrille's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    UAE
    Posts
    11,485
    vCash
    525
    Rep Power
    7518

    Re: Is "google" now a verb?

    Quote Originally Posted by Killing Me Softly 101 View Post
    Shakespeare frequently changed a words grammatical form.
    Sorry?

    Examples please.

    Quote Originally Posted by kikiat View Post
    Apparently Google is trying to prevent the name "google" to become an official verb, (as far as I know it's still not in any dictionaries) because then they can't protect their name properly anymore, anyone could start using google in a slogan, because it would be a common verb.
    Would like some links to that too, please.

    (A polite way of saying 'what a pile of bull crap' )
    Last edited by Cyrille; 8th May 2008 at 00:48. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

  14. #14
    Exiled Liberal Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101 has a reputation beyond repute Killing Me Softly 101's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    East Coast
    Posts
    3,245
    vCash
    500
    Rep Power
    2208

    Re: Is "google" now a verb?

    Quote Originally Posted by kikiat View Post
    Apparently Google is trying to prevent the name "google" to become an official verb, (as far as I know it's still not in any dictionaries) because then they can't protect their name properly anymore, anyone could start using google in a slogan, because it would be a common verb.
    Google was a math word before Google latched on to it. 1 followed by 100 zeros. A very large number.

    A "google" is the number 10^100. A "googleplex" is an even larger number-- internet sources. I already knew this but just looked it up to be certain.

    So Google corp. has tradmarked or copied the word related to computers and search engines. Like "Apple".

    They might be able to limit trade mark infringments from another company, but they cannot regulate the use in gereral language. But Yahoo for example would not be able to use ads that say "come and google it here".


    Quote Originally Posted by Cyrille View Post
    Examples please.
    None come to mind. I remember this from English Lit Class. That was 30+ years ago. And I am not that pedantic.

    Lit majors "Start your engines!!!! Give him examples.
    "I do not think about things I don't think about." said William Jennings Bryan.
    To which Clarence Darrow responded, "Do you think about the things you do think about?"
    Tennessee vs. John Scopes, 1925.

  15. #15
    Senior Member Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling has a reputation beyond repute Lor Ling's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Bangkok
    Posts
    5,836
    vCash
    500
    Rep Power
    2074

    Re: Is "google" now a verb?

    Quote Originally Posted by Killing Me Softly 101 View Post
    Google was a math word before Google latched on to it. 1 followed by 100 zeros. A very large number.
    Wasn't that a googol?

    googol - Google Search

    Yes it was - I just googled it!
    I'm like that doll Chuckie, baby
    Keep comin back to live, love life like I'm crazy
    To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2
1 2 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

     

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts