Had to share this...

[tolyk]

I was looking through my dictionary and noticed that it was rather outdated, which I already knew but still.. Anyways, I looked at the back and found that it has reviews on the back. They're hilarious and I had to share them.

This is the Oxford American Dictionary, as printed in June, 1980. ("The most authoritative paperbound dictionary of american usage." and no, I have no clue why I have an american dictionary from 1980.. its always just been around the house)

The one dictionary for Americans who need to use their language well

"At a time when hundreds of misuses are creeping into the language...this is the first modern dictionary to lay down the law on what constitutes correct grammar." - Associated press​

New American Vocabulary

"Contains words and phrases and colorful slang likely to be met in everyday usage in this country...The 70,000 entries are compressed...deliberately simple, but often sophisticated." - The New York Times​

Simple Pronunciation

"The Oxford American has a new pronunciation system, in which words are translated into syllables of unmistakable pronunciation." - Philadelphia Inquirer​

(Were these the first guys to do that?)

Correct Word Use

"The hundreds of footnotes in individual entries illustrating proper usage of difficult words are alone worth the price." - Chicago Sun-Times​

(The price was $3.95 American, $5.75 Canadian)

If anyone else has some old book laying around that just seems funny to you, lets hear it. =)

 

[cloudy]

I have an old dictionary around here somewhere that belonged to my grandmother...I think the publication date on it is either 1959 or 1960. I keep it mainly because it's a source of huge amusement for me and my children both.

One of the definitions I remember offhand is:

Spaceship: an imaginary vehicle used to travel throughout the universe.

 

[tolyk]

I have an old dictionary around here somewhere that belonged to my grandmother...I think the publication date on it is either 1959 or 1960. I keep it mainly because it's a source of huge amusement for me and my children both.

One of the definitions I remember offhand is:

Spaceship: an imaginary vehicle used to travel throughout the universe.

Thats awesome! heh

Gotta love stuff like that.

 

[rgraham666]

My favourite dictionary is The Doubter's Companion.

Sample: TRUTH A reassuring notion which, in practice, is difficult to identify. The determination to establish truth often means that violence must be done to other people.

Or: MARXIST The only serious functioning Marxists left in the West are the senior management of large, usually transnational corporations. The only serious Marxist thinkers are neo-conservative.

A very funny book.

 

[tolyk]

My favourite dictionary is The Doubter's Companion.

Sample: TRUTH A reassuring notion which, in practice, is difficult to identify. The determination to establish truth often means that violence must be done to other people.

Or: MARXIST The only serious functioning Marxists left in the West are the senior management of large, usually transnational corporations. The only serious Marxist thinkers are neo-conservative.

A very funny book.

Sounds like it, will have to see if my library carries that in their dictionaries.

 

[rgraham666]

Sounds like it, will have to see if my library carries that in their dictionaries.

It'll probably be in the philosophy section. It's by the guy who's married to our current Governor-General. Don't let that put you off it. A very interesting book.

 

[tolyk]

It'll probably be in the philosophy section. It's by the guy who's married to our current Governor-General. Don't let that put you off it. A very interesting book.

Uh.. who is our current governor-general anyways? *sheepish grin*

 

[rgraham666]

In this case, it ain't really important.

 

[tolyk]

In this case, it ain't really important.

I've never felt its important in any case.. I'm very ignorant when it comes to politics, blissfully so.. I read an interesting article in Maclean's though, about innovation and how the author thinks some things should be changed up in the political world. He had some interesting view-points.

The people are better educated than when our governing system was developed, we don't need one man to tell us what is good for us anymore. We more often know what we are in need of than our representatives do nowadays.. etc etc etc...

It is in the Special Commemorative Issue, 100th anniversary

 

[Guest]

What really scares me is that the word "dictionary" is IN the dictionary.

If you don't know what one is, how would you know to look it up in one?

I think the only reason it should be in there is to prove a point.


dic·tion·ar·y Pronunciation Key (dksh-nr)
n. pl. dic·tion·ar·ies

1. See front cover.

2. Give it up, you're not gonna make it. You're eyes are too far apart.

 

[rgraham666]

I've never felt its important in any case.. I'm very ignorant when it comes to politics, blissfully so.. I read an interesting article in Maclean's though, about innovation and how the author thinks some things should be changed up in the political world. He had some interesting view-points.

The people are better educated than when our governing system was developed, we don't need one man to tell us what is good for us anymore. We more often know what we are in need of than our representatives do nowadays.. etc etc etc...

It is in the Special Commemorative Issue, 100th anniversary

Without reading the article, my first reaction is 'not that again!'

Technology has, in my opinion, had a rather negative impact on democracy. And if education made a difference, why are so many of us desperate to return to the 19th century?

Maybe we do know more than our representatives. But are we willing to take the time to think about the impact of our decisions? Do we want to spend as much time reading the budget as we do watching hockey? Do we want to spend the time discussing all the myriad thoughts that must go into creating a policy?

Our representative is just that, our representative. We elect them to take the time to work on the public good that we are not willing to take ourselves.

A favourite line of mine states, "Make sure your present report system is clean and effective before you automate. Otherwise your new computer will just speed up the mess."

That's what technology has done for democracy, speed up the mess. More technology just makes for a faster mess.

 

[gauchecritic]

What really scares me is that the word "dictionary" is IN the dictionary.

If you don't know what one is, how would you know to look it up in one?

I think the only reason it should be in there is to prove a point.


dic·tion·ar·y Pronunciation Key (dksh-nr)
n. pl. dic·tion·ar·ies

1. See front cover.

2. Give it up, you're not gonna make it. You're eyes are too far apart.

Also, I'm given to understand, is the fact that the word 'gullible' nor any translation is to be found in any dictionary from any source in the world.

 

[minsue]

Also, I'm given to understand, is the fact that the word 'gullible' nor any translation is to be found in any dictionary from any source in the world.

. .