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Erin McKean wants us to redefine the dictionary

Erin McKean, a very funny lexicographer, wants everyone to help in redefining the dictionary.

She makes the point that we tend to define the “dictionary” as a dusty old book that sits on our book shelf at home; we should be moving beyond such a definition to include all (or as close as we can get to “all”) English words that have ever been used in print or speech.

Physical books are limiting simply due to their design, they only serve to exclude a whole bunch of English words that, while being just as “cool”, are kept out of the physical books because they’re not often used or whatever.

So, listen to her; if only just to hear the word “synecdochically” used in a sentence.

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Related posts:

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  2. One dictionary to rule them all
  3. Slight addition to the dictionary section

June 1, 2008  Tags: , ,   Posted in: language

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