[Lexicog] When Words Lose Meaning

[Benjamin Barrett]

Marriage has been known to encompass same-sex couples for at least  
2000 years, though lexicographers did not reflect that fact in their  
dictionaries.

In modern times, dictionaries have recognized the word marriage as  
including same-sex couples for the last decade give or take a few  
years. Many same-sex couples have used the word marriage to refer to  
their situation for years before that, regardless of their legal  
status or whether dictionaries recognized it. Lexicographically,  
nothing happened in California as laws recognizing same-sex marriage  
were already present in other countries. BB

On May 17, 2008, at 9:13 AM, Fritz Goerling wrote:

>
> Right - the “nemesis.” What do lexicographers do with youthful  
> unorthodox uses of words like “wicked” or “bad” to mean “good/cool”  
> which usually go out of fashion soon?” Slang dictionaries? Or what  
> to do with the recent judicial redefinition of marriage by the  
> Supreme Court inCalifornia?
>
> Fritz Goerling
>
> Scott Nelson wrote:
>
> It's interesting to watch what happens to words when any of five
> inconvenient factors intrude on an original (if there is such a thing
> as an origninal): 1) emotion 2) politics 3) metaphorical use 4)
> location 5) time.
>
> <
> The issue of words losing/changing meaning is one that can
> easily be resolved by extending definitions …
> It will continue to be the nemesis
> of lexicographers and teachers in hard copy.
>
>
>
>
> 

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