Qi, Za
By[MUSIC--TRUMPET FANFARE]
NARRATOR–It has arrived. [PAUSES FOR EFFECT]
[MUSIC--THEME TUNE TO STAR WARS RISES IN BACKGROUND]
NARRATOR–After years of scanning countless dictionaries the rebel Scrabble alliance launch their latest weapon–OSPD 4. Players in living rooms, community centers, and old age homes across the galaxy believe this is the beginning of a new hope: That previously banned words will at last be set free. [PAUSES]
NARRATOR–Yes, it’s the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary Fourth Edition. Authorized by the makers of Scrabble Brand crossword games and endorsed by the national SCRABBLE association.
NARRATOR — With more than 100,000 playable two- to eight-letter words including 4,000 new entries. And best of all [EXTREMELY LONG PAUSE FOR MAXIMUM EFFECT TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCH A MOMENTOUS OCCASION] two new words that will change the game completely– QI (the vital force that in Chinese thought is inherent in all things) and ZA (a pizza).
NARRATOR–And yes. It arrived here this morning via US postal service!
(Hat tip to Judy for buying me the book. For more of my geeky Scrabble stories try here.)
2 Comments
May 17th, 2005 at 1:04 pm
It should be noted that the words QI and ZA were not actually banned, but considered foreign in American English, and therefore excluded, until now. The Official Scrabble Player’s Dictionary actually does ban words that the committee consider offensive, like “JEW” and “TWAT”. These words were included in the first and second editions of the OSPD, but removed in the third and now fourth editions, which are described as being “for recreational and school use”, but not for tournament. Fortunately the offensive words are listed in the Official Word List, without definition.
May 17th, 2005 at 1:10 pm
William. Not only do I stand corrected but I am in awe of your geekness. What a shame you were so thoroughly crushed last night by my bingos!