Prescriptivism and descriptivism: vegetarian, vegan and dairy

[Joel S. Berson]

At 2/6/2012 11:06 AM, Joel S. Berson wrote:
>To: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>, ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>From: "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at att.net>
>Subject: Re: [ADS-L] Prescriptivism and descriptivism: vegetarian,
>vegan and dairy
>
>At 2/4/2012 06:57 PM, Benjamin Barrett wrote:
>>On Feb 4, 2012, at 3:39 PM, Laurence Horn wrote:
>>
>> > On Feb 4, 2012, at 5:34 PM, Benjamin Barrett wrote:
>> >
>> >> On Feb 4, 2012, at 1:49 PM, Laurence Horn wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> On Feb 4, 2012, at 3:54 PM, Benjamin Barrett wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>>> 1. vegetarian
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Vegetarians may be ovo-, lacto-, pesco- or other sorts, but
>> only "vegetarian" is found in the OED. The AHD has them, but only
>> with a hyphen. Wiktionary has reasonably good coverage.
>> >>>>
>> >>> Of course ovo- and lacto- (and ovo-lacto-) vegetarians are
>> also vegetarians in the usual sense, while pesco-vegetarians (or
>> pesky-, as some of my acquaintance call themselves) aren't.
>> >>
>> >> The "usual sense" is the issue in all of these items. I agree
>> with you that pesco- and gallivegetarians (?)
>> >
>> > cock-o-vegetarians?
>> >
>> >> don't really fit the usual sense despite being widespread.
>> >>
>> >>>> Also, the OED defines "vegan" to be only in connection with
>> eating. The AHD and Wiktionary also cover non-food use of animal
>> products, which is very frequently part-and-parcel of this definition.
>> >>>>
>> >>> Right: leather-wearing in particular.  And of course
>> honey-eating, but that's food use.
>> >>
>> >> Good point. Honey should probably be included in the definition
>> somewhere as some vegans eat it even though it's an animal product.
>> >>
>> > melo-vegetarians?
>>
>>
>>There is some speculation about this, including mel and melo.
>>
>>http://cpanel14.newmediaexpress.com/~vegetari/my_forums/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=3308&view=next
>>http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081013095427AATboTt
>>http://vegetarian.livejournal.com/3032149.html (including a wit who
>>suggests the word "beegan"
>>http://www.foodaq.com/html/Vegetarian-Vegan/201977.html
>>
>>I'm not holding my breath, but maybe it will catch on as the vegan
>>movement grows...
>>
>>BB

For vegans, doesn't it depend on whether the bees are cultivated (or
should that be "herded"?) -- that is exploited, or it's just that
their product is purloined?  And what about kosher vegans eating honey?

Joel

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