The Lexicographer's Rules

Erica Sadun gives instructions on how to purge the Mac OS X dictionary—a digital version of the New Oxford American Dictionary—of its coarse language. As I wrote in the comments, this is a bad idea in several ways.

Well, as a lexicographer who had a small part in compiling that dictionary, I'd say your motives for removing such words are poor ones. When guiding children, the best approach to earthy or coarse language is always a matter-of-fact one. Children need straightforward non-giggly definitions for these words and dictionaries like this (as opposed to ones like Urban Dictionary) are the place to get them.

As a writer and a radio host, I'd say that abridging the intellectual creation of someone else in this fashion is shameful.

And as an IT guy (lots of hats, see?) I'd say this is the lamest HOWTO since someone explained that disconnecting a television's CRT tube was a great way to make a radio.

I was quoted in USA Today about the Don Imus nappy-headed-ho brouhaha.

"You can't contain language any more than you can contain air," says lexicographer Grant Barrett, co-host of the PBS radio show A Way With Words. He says conflicts such as this happen every day all over America, unnoticed by the media. Maybe that's better, he says, because words sting less if you don't make a big deal of them. "When you make something taboo, that makes it all the more delicious on the lips of people who like to shock."

Well, of course you can contain air. What I should have said (and what I usually say) was something like "You can no more contain language than you can catch all the breath that says it." That's what happens when the press calls for a quote on deadline and you've got no time to mull over the questions.

Update: I also just finished speaking on the air to Hoppy Kercheval of West Virginia's MetroNews.

Two years ago, a mistake was made: The tattoo read "Chi-Tonw" instead of "Chi-Town." Now, in an act of solidarity, more people are getting tattoos spelled Chi-Tonw on purpose. This fellow had it spelled that way on his neck. Chicago Tribune news and blog coverage, and audio on NPR.

I have an article in the Readex eNewsletter: From Student Researcher to Careful Scholar: Tips from a Lexicographer.

Captain of the Low Seas. "Instead of getting about on a senior scooter, for example, Mr. Hansen used a forklift, and he was famous for driving it places forklifts have no business going, including but not limited to a busted section of pier that promptly collapsed, sending him and the forklift into the water with such violence that both had to be sent off for repairs."