Word Surveys for NAWL are managed using an Access database. A separate form is used to enter the characteristics of each set of words reviewed. The form and underlying table includes fields for offensive and international words, and a flag to exclude the word from lists. This will enable the publication of different lexicons later, such as a school version that only includes words up to 10 letters in length that omits offensive words, or a lexicon that includes international english words such as are spoken in other countries. The exclude flag is used to excude a questionable word or collection of words until it is decided that they should be in the word list.
Following entry a text file can be produced in dictionary format (Words, Tab, Definition) suitable for adding dictionary definitions to Hoot, or for adding the lexicon to Hoot. The following is an example except that the tab character in the file is not supported by web pages. The list can also be pasted into the textfile search window of Hoot 2.0.2 to produce a list of words (without shortcuts).
BOKEH BOKEH n the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image
CRUFTY(/IER,/IEST) CRUFTY n anything that is left over, redundant and getting in the way, particularly computer technology
DEMONYM(S) DEMONYM n pl. -S A noun used to denote the natives or inhabitants of a particular area
FARTER(S) FARTER n pl. -S someone who farts; someone who moves along slowly
PACKRAT(S) PACKRAT n pl. -S a medium sized rodent, also known as the white-throated woodrat
PLEBIAN(S) PLEBIAN n pl. -S alternate spelling of PLEBEIAN
KRYPTONITE KRYPTONITE n radioactive element from the planet of KRYPTON
POTSTICKER(S) POTSTICKER n pl. -S a filled crescent-shaped Chinese dumpling, typically pan-fried and/or steamed
CROUDSOURCE(S,D) CROWDSOURCE v access funding from the public
SHART(S,ED,ING,ER,ERS) SHART v when you try to fart and shit accidently comes out
GAMIFY(/IED,IES,ING) GAMIFY v to turn an activity into a game
GEOTAG(S,GED,GING) GEOTAG v an electronic tag that assigns a geographical location to a photograph or video
PROXYING PROXYING v the act of voting in place of another
SKEEDED(//ING) SKEETED v past tense of SKEET
TWEENED(//ING) TWEENED v past tense of TWEEN
SHARDING SHARDING v the process of dividing large databases into smaller, faster ones
CAFFEINATING CAFFEINATING v the act of loading up on caffeine
ADMISSIBLY ADMISSIBLY adv ADMITTABLE, variation of ADMISSIBLE
The dictionary entry for the words CRUFTY, CRUFTIER, and CRUFTIEST will then display as
CRUFTY n anything that is left over, redundant and getting in the way, particularly computer technology
Other than the plural, word variations are not normally displayed as a part of the definition in order to save space.
Reports are also generated from the database for all additions alphabetically, or by subject/survey.
The actual word list is compiled using the Hoot word study program and a text editor. The abbreviated word list is expanded by pasting it into the textfile search window, copying and adding it to the base dictionary, and then sorting with duplicates removed.