In Redefining Definition, former editor-in-chief of American dictionaries for Oxford University Press Erin McKean makes one consider the thoughts of where dictionary definitions come from, who writes them, and how consensus might be reached on what a word "means". Throughout the article, McKean criticizes the ability of a dictionary to properly help people grasp meanings
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| Author Erin McKean |
In the second paragraph, she states that “a good dictionary derives its reputation from careful analysis of examples of words in use…”. That statement sets the basis for her criticisms that shall follow throughout the article. McKean continues as to say that dictionaries provide us with overly abstract definitions. To prove her point, she pulls out the words subtle and attenuate and states how difficult it would be to match the words to their definition.
Furthermore, it’s not only your average Joe that suffers from these “overly abstract definitions”, children are also “victims”. Author Erin McKean builds up her credibility when she pulls out the facts of the oft-cited 1987 study on the fifth graders that were given dictionary definitions and told to use them in a sentence. Again, McKean provides to her ethos in the article with the statement of 13% of nouns, verbs and adjectives were used in senses not found in a large desk dictionary.
Unlike traditional dictionaries, the website features pronunciation sound files, related words, usage patterns and information derived from social networks.
To finalize it all, she proposes that the solution to all our troubles could be an online dictionary that is continuously updated. One that is user friendly and suitable for all.
This article really does open its reader’s eyes and lead them to a new perspective towards tangible dictionaries. One is lead to believe that the information in them could be old/wrong compared to that of an online dictionary.
I agree with you and the author! I have to admit that I am guilty of searching for a word in a dictionary (specifically print), and then using the definition as something that is set in stone and there's no arguing about it. But because dictionaries compact all of the various meanings a word can have, we are not able to fully grasp what the word actually has to offer. I tried using Wordnik and actually found it useful.
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