December 22, 2009 02:29:01
Posted By P & L Blog
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Many word lovers also love dictionaries. Because no dictionary contains all the information we need or want, most of us own quite a selection. But any new dictionary we buy is already out of date; the process used to create them is long and laborious so new words may not appear in print for years. In "Redefining Definition", Erin McKean notes that the definitions found in dictionaries can be overly abstract and they are often incomplete. Space limits the number of examples that can be included, depriving the reader of important information. McKean says that online dictionaries can use real-time examples pulled from different sources including websites and social media. The meaning of new words will be accessible much faster and to more people than in a print version. McKean is the former editor in chief of American dictionaries at Oxford University Press and now she has founded the online dictionary Wordnik.com. Her understanding of both online and print gives her an interesting perspective. As sites like Wordnik.com grow, will you hold on to your print dictionaries? |