I just kept thinking, “1828? But Jane Austen was already dead by then!”

I know, it didn’t make any sense, but neither did the other poster’s infatuation with the 1828 Webster’s!

Anyway, maybe this dictionary thing really is like the KJV-only controversy. Do I see the book “New Age Dictionaries” being published in the future? At this point, nothing would surprise me.

That’s because in a time of extreme push-the-envelope True Believers, nothing is too extreme and parody is impossible.

As far as you push into absurdity for parody and humor, there is some unsmiling True Believer out there who will push farther beyond absurdity and be Dead Serious.

I do think there is merit to the old book if only to seek understanding, but you can get the thing for free on the internet.

I have no idea why this would be second in importance to the Bible… now that is quite a bit off base.

Dana!
Your remark on Rod and “his” Staff made my day. What a hoot!

Cally,

Very profound.

Excellent post and discussion.

I’m a big believer that VF (and probably just about every company in the WORLD) regularly engages in this marketing trick- creating the problem so they can sell you the solution:

College is evil and it will turn your daughters (but not your sons) into God-hating feminists! What should they do instead? Here’s a book for you! Do Americal Girl dolls give you the creeps because their parent company funds programs you don’t like? We’ll sell you alternative dolls and your money can go to helping us win the culture war! Can’t decide between the Constitution Party candidate and the Republican? Well GOD himself has principles for voting- you must obey them, they are found in the Bible- and we’ll SELL you the information for $16.99. A modern dictionary isn’t good enough because its been corrupted by 150 years of secularism and God-hating culture. Buy THIS dictionary and we’ll sell it to you! This dictionary uses Bible verses to define words therefore it must be better.

I have no problem with the dictionary itself. Heck, I’ll probably buy one at some point because it is actual quite an important work, historically. If Doug Phillips loves this dictionary, wonderful! Yay! But saying that its the second most important book in your home is a bit fo a stretch.

First, the first comprehensive disctionary of the English language was started by Samuel Johnson in 1755, it took him 9 years to complete it. It was commissioned by a group of London booksellers who were desperate to standardise English spelling and grammar, which varied greatly from county to county, let alone how it was used in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. It was not a political undertaking but a commerical one. A comprehensive dictionary was needed at a time when the publication of printed materials was exlpoding – it’s a time akin to the one we’re in today, where there was this brand new method of communicating which was both exciting and troublesome – also, and concurrent with, this explosion in publishing was massive rise in literacy, the average man and woman could now read.

The Johson dictionary was used in America for many years, however its use irked Webster, who felt that the dictionary was as currupt as the country and literature from which it originated. He wrote the 1828 Webster dictionary as an attempt to assert a distinctive American cultural identity, it was an attempt to claim an American language, freeing it from the shackles of British imperialism. He understood that language and culture were intimately intwined. Now, I may be leaping to a few too many conclusions here, but aren’t dominionist Christians all about asserting a distinctive Christian (and America) culture? Is this why it appeals so?

Also, isn’t the 1828 Webster a friend of American lawyers and is often used in the legislature? When they discuss and evolve laws they need to know the original definition of the words used when the law was first made, with all its original cultureal nuances. Isn’t Mr Phillips a lawyer? Considering his profession and personal beliefs I imagine the Webster appeals to something deep within his soul…oh, and don’t we all feel that way about our favourite books?

Yours sincerely

Dictionary Nerd

Yeah. Who’s whitewashing history now?