The state of the English Language
A bit of
disheartening but not unexpected news from Archbishop Cranmer:
Oxford dictionary eradicates words associated with Christianity and British history
Cranmer is having one of his incandescent moments, which are rare, but quite vehement when they occur. It transpires that Oxford University Press has decided to eradicate from its Junior Dictionary words associated with Christianity, the monarchy and British traditions and history.
Thus words like �bishop�, �abbey�, �chapel, �saint�, �empire� and �coronation� have been expunged along with many which related to the countryside, like �moss�, �willow�, �fern�, �buttercup�, �heather�, �sycamore� and �mistletoe�.
In order to make the dictionary �more relevant� to the town-dwelling, multi-faith, multi-cultural internet-dominated, celebrity-obsessed, and ADD-afflicted generation, words like �blog�, �broadband�, �MP3 player�, �voicemail� and �celebrity� are supplanting those which may explain and educate them on their country�s Christian heritage and cultural traditions.
And with supreme irony yet of immense political significance, �monarch� has been erased while �EU� enters for the first time.
Granted, this is the Junior Edition and not the full monster but still -- camel's nose under the tent flap and all that...
Posted by DaveH at December 8, 2008 6:33 PM