Lebanese people have spread across the globe, bringing with them Lebanese culture, language, cuisine, and traditions. French dictionaries are now encountering this spread, particularly through dishes famous in Lebanon, as well as various other kitchens. In addition to terms generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the word "labneh" has made it into the cheese list in the new 2023 edition of the renowned French dictionary "Le Petit Robert," founded by Paul Robert in 1967. Similarly, "shawarma" has asserted itself among the food entries in the same dictionary.
On the other hand, "Le Petit Larousse," an encyclopedic French dictionary first published by Claude Augé in 1905, has chosen to include 150 words borrowed from other languages in this year's new edition, among which is "halloumi," the Greek term for the cheese.
#### What are the conditions for adding new terms to dictionaries?
- **Addability**
Each dictionary has its own policy regarding renewal and addition. Some dictionaries try to preserve the traditional language, maintaining fixed terms, unlike Larousse and Le Robert, which are characterized by continuous renewal and updates, adding new terms each year.
- **Frequency of Usage**
Language specialists and linguists interested in developing dictionaries meet annually to determine a list of the most significant new words that have been widely used over the year, relying on various sources: films, research, news, updates, songs, advertisements, and more. Nowadays, linguists turn to social media to gauge the popularity of words as they reflect a direct portrayal of the communities' language.
- **Word Durability**
Once the most popular words are identified, terms that demonstrate sustained usage over time are retained to ensure their continuity. Foreign loanwords are new terms born from rapid linguistic evolution that impose themselves and compel other languages to adopt them in order to keep up with the ongoing developments. As a result, it has become necessary to either attempt to find a translation in the language or to adopt the terms as they are. Both options lead to the development of new terms, such as those related to the coronavirus.
These newly introduced words thus indicate that language is in constant evolution, reflecting the community's needs and adapting to its development and openness to other languages.
