Want a word? Here are 307 of the best, according to youngsters

Thu, 01 May 2008 11:11:37 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: The Oxford Wordlist (716 KB pdf) contains 307 most frequently used words by students in their first three years of school

Clip Source: www.theage.com.au

TODAY'S children use less formal language than their peers 30 years ago, with a list of the top 300 words used by prep to grade 2 students revealing mum and dad has replaced mother and father, while use of Mr and Mrs has virtually disappeared.

The list of 307 words, launched yesterday by Children and Early Childhood Development Minister Maxine Morand, was compiled by Oxford University Press from the writing of 1000 Victorian and South Australian students. The data was then analysed by researchers at Melbourne University.

It is the first time the list has been updated since 1977. The update reveals the extent to which technology has influenced the vocabulary of five to seven-year-olds.

Julie Baillie, from the primary division of Oxford University Press, said a "vocabulary of consumerism" had emerged through more common use of words such as bought, new, shop, shops, shopping, want and wanted.

Tags: education

11 'eco-friendly' firms lied about ratio of used paper in recycled products

Thu, 01 May 2008 10:45:30 GMT

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clipper's remarks: Isn't it great that a country not only has rules but enforces them!

Clip Source: mdn.mainichi.jp

An organization promoting the purchase of eco-friendly products has ousted 11 paper manufacturers from the body after they lied about the ratio of used paper in their recycled products, officials said.

As of Thursday, the Green Purchasing Network (GPN) had expelled 11 member companies. It was the first time that the organization had expelled members since its establishment in 1996.

The 11 member companies were among the 17 paper manufacturers that falsified information on the ratio of used paper in their products such as photocopying paper.

The GPN said they stripped the 11 companies of their membership because they carried false information on their products on the network's Web site on environment-related information.

"We discussed our guidelines on the purchase of ecologically friendly products with our member companies since we drew them up, but our confidence was betrayed. We hope things like this will never happen again," said Hideki Nakahara, chairman of the GPN.

Tags: non-organic, toilet, paper

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Want a word? Here are 307 of the best, according to youngsters

11 'eco-friendly' firms lied about ratio of used paper in recycled products