Date:  Tue, 28 Oct 1997 16:48:35 -0500
From:  "Jeutonne P. Brewer" <jpbrewer[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]HAMLET.UNCG.EDU>
Subject: Re: PC Dictionaries?

On Tue, 28 Oct 1997, CARRIE SUSANN ADDINGTON wrote:

>  I am personally outraged by the fact that a stereotypical label has
> been placed in a dictionary as a meaningful word. Does white trash
> exist in the dictionary?--same thing! I hate racism adn the fact that it
> exists but to put it in the dictionary as a word.No! It is a damn
> stereotype. Does anyone agree? Is anyone else upset with this?
> Carrie

Unfortunately, these words and phrases are full of meanings. That's the
problem being discussed on the list. A legitimate dictionary has an
obligation to include these words (and many others). Dictionaries report
on/record usage; they don't dictate usage. Do you remember the old
claim. Ain't ain't a word because ain't ain't in the dictionary?
Of course, the statement by itself proved that ain't was -- and is --
a word in English. The purpose of this list is to discuss language
and language use. ALL uses of language are legitimate subjects for
study, analysis, and comment. I don't have to like a word or a subject
in order to learn about it, study it, or write about it.

I think knowledge is always better than censorship.

Jeutonne

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Jeutonne P. Brewer, Associate Professor
Department of English
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC 27412
email: jpbrewer[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]hamlet.uncg.edu
URL:  http://www.uncg.edu/~jpbrewer
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