The latest updates about Oxford University Press around the
world 28 May 2012 Innovative use of language, a firm grasp of
technology, and a thirst for unusual words are just some of the
findings revealed about how children use language in new Oxford
University Press research. The research was compiled by
lexicographers in OUP’s Children’s Dictionaries team based on an
analysis of thousands of short stories sent into a BBC radio
competition for children in the UK. A summary of the report has
been released, revealing a wealth of information about
children’s patterns in language, grammatical structures, and
vocabulary use. The results show that children are extremely
inventive in their storytelling and language use, with many
stories focusing on genetic experiments, espionage, and
futuristic gadgets. Favourites of the researchers included the
fingerlaser, a planet-shrinking zaporator, and the electrostone,
a device that can disable electrical circuits. Robotic hybrids
such as the dog-bot, robo-dog, and teacherbo