Is it a sin?

[Rachmaninoff]

In the same line of reasoning found in this thread:[URL="http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=59905"][U] Death to film critics! Hail to the CelebCult![/U][/URL] It seems that other aspects of learning/reviewing/study are being dumbed down as well. I ran across this paticular article here:

[URL="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1092668/Is-sin-Christian-words-deleted-Oxford-dictionary.html"][U]Is it a sin? Christian words deleted from Oxford dictionary[/U][/URL]

Now I understand that language changes over the years and that some words fall out of use, but taking out words like Sin among other things just seems a bit out of whack. Sure it's referring to a dictionary aimed at younger kids, but it seems like a disservice to strip out words that would help them when learning about history.

Anyway, it's not the end of the world, but still, I found some of the choices for words to be taken out rather odd.

[Raiha]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]I don't believe in the destruction of language for any reason, and political spinelessness is just another reason to keep using words that are going out of fashion.

It's disgusting to take out words out of a dictionary that some people might not like or feel comfortable with. Not only is it, to me, the first step on a nice long dwadle down 1984 street, next we'll find ourselves all fluent in Newspeak and saying words like unthink, and ungood.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[TimeChaser]

I agree that it's rather silly to remove the words. I think it is important to learn thing in their historical context. I mean, removing a word like "empire"? While we now understand that being imperial is a bad thing, it's still important for people to understand this, learn about the past empires of the world. We shouldn't just sweep history under the rug because it's inconvenient and painful.

[chibi-master]

How are children going to expand their vocabulary this way?! If the dictionary is filled with terms that they would be familiar with, why would they event want the thing?! And why are "piglet" and "acorn" taken out?

Well, if this is what's going on with dictionaries nowadays, then I will treasure the dictionary I have now! By the way, I just looked up acorn, piglet and disciple! HA! Take THAT, skitish word-axers!

[Gavin]

[I][SIZE="1"]This post would contain an eloquent rant from Gavin on what a terrible disservice this is to people but he has mislaid his dictionary.[/i]

Kidding aside this is nothing short of moronic to the point it reminds me of the Blackadder episode where Edmund must rewrite the first ever dictionary.[/SIZE]

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[color=#9933ff]I'm wondering if they removed Sin becase they needed room for something more flashy like Sin-a-liscious.

Sorry that was just bad. I won't do it again. But really why are they removing words from the dictionary when people are still using them? Isn't that a bit retarded? And by retarded I mean from the french meaning half formed.[/color]

[Gavin]

[quote name='ChibiHorsewoman'][color=#9933ff]And by retarded I mean from the french meaning half formed.[/color][/QUOTE]

[SIZE="1"]Actually Chibi in French "retard" translates to refer to "being late" or "lateness" depending on the context. Nice that my six years of high school French can still come in useful.

[/SIZE]

[Dagger]

To be honest? I think it's irrelevant. People can find an endless number of definitions online. How many of you have used a paper dictionary in the past year? Anyway, seven to nine-year-olds know that they can get quicker answers by simply asking someone if they hit a word they don't know. I frankly can't recall ever using a paper dictionary much, especially as a kid--too much of a hassle.

~Dagger~

[James]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I notice that this is the Oxford [i]Junior[/i] Dictionary. That changes everything.

It seems as though they've removed some words and added others that they feel are more relevant to younger people (like "MP3 Player").

I don't entirely agree with that, but then again, I suppose they want to keep the dictionary at a particular maximum size (which means some words get the cut). Many of those mentioned are [i]not[/i] "Christian" words, either - such as the majority of those under the "nature" banner.

So yeah, I don't really see this as a big deal.

If the full-size adult dictionaries started cutting all of this stuff out, then I'd be concerned.

Still, I'd rather have a bigger dictionary for kids rather than try to keep the size down and therefore remove words.[/font]

[The Spectacular Professor]

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]Personally, I would think that when considering the inclusion or exclusion of words in a dictionary, one would attempt to keep or add words which are used less frequently by the target demographic, such as "sycamore," because it is assumed that the number of people who know the definition for that word is less than the number of people who know what an MP3 Player is.

And on that note, MP3 Player? Seriously? Such a clunky, clumsy-sounding phrase. I'd much rather use "acorn" or "piglet."[/FONT]

[Sabrina]

[FONT="Tahoma"]I can understand that they are limited in space for Junior dictionaries, but at the same time it seems a little odd that they would make those choices for removing words. o_O I just recall that some of my first books that I read when I was the age the dictionaries are aimed for, had those words that they've removed.

Though my parents just had a regular dictionary and not a junior one so missing words like that was never an issue. I was always able to find what I needed. [/FONT]

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[quote name='Gavin'][SIZE="1"]Actually Chibi in French "retard" translates to refer to "being late" or "lateness" depending on the context. Nice that my six years of high school French can still come in useful.

[/SIZE][/QUOTE]


[color=#9933ff]Oops my bad. Hey in my defense I took Spanish. I don't even speak [I]butchered[/I] French unless I go into Montrèal and even then it's not Continental french it's [I]Frances de Quèbec.[/I] Which is [I][B]fake[/B][/I] french.[/color]

[Horendithas]

[COLOR="Indigo"][FONT="Arial"]I suppose it's unavoidable since it is for a junior dictionary. Still the removal of the word sin does make me snerk a bit.

Like James said, if they were doing it to full sized dictionaries I'd be concerned, but otherwise, like you said Darren, though not the end of the world, the choices were a little odd.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[DeLarge]

[SIZE=1]Well, I would weigh in and get angry about the destruction of the English language and how it is a travesty to remove words from the dictionary, but I just realised that this article was found in the Daily Mail, a publication which I a) refuse to read and b) refuse even more strongly to get angry about. That newspaper has a certain reputation in England, and a reputation which I feel stands up.

I can almost understand seeing as this is a junior dictionary, but the word "acorn"?!
[/SIZE]

[Aaryanna]

[FONT="Tahoma"][COLOR="Sienna"]We never had a junior dictionary when I was growing up, ever. o_O Now I'm glad we didn't.

So long as it's just those types of dictionaries I don't care that they're switching up the words but if they ever did that to regular ones... I'd so object. Still the words they removed? lolwut?!? =P

Though when I saw the title of this thread... I thought of this. XD

[CENTER][YOUTUBE="Pet Shop Boys - It's a Sin"]y7I5UaB7mx4[/YOUTUBE][/CENTER][/COLOR][/FONT]

[Solo Tremaine]

[COLOR=#503f86]Haha, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought of that ^_^; I used to be a big Pet Shop Boys fan.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=#503f86]I don't like the idea of trying to pander to popular culture when it comes to history or language. Considering there's such a base of farmyard animals and nature in children's books I just can't understand how removing 'piglet' seemed like a good idea. And putting in 'MP3 Player' just seems plain cynical. Fair enough 'television', but technically if you put that in there, you need things like 'MP3' to back it up. And I just don't see a reason for kids to need to learn that from a dictionary. Although I guess the more it comes into use, the greater necessity there is for it to be known as it becomes a bigger part of people's lives...[/COLOR]

[Vicky]

[size=1]This is what happens when you let an Athiest on the OUP =p.[/size]

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[color=#9933ff]I know I should have asked this earlier. But if "sin" has been removed from the dictionary does that mean I don't have to go to confession anymore?[/color]

[Rachmaninoff]

[quote name='ChibiHorsewoman][color=#9933ff']I know I should have asked this earlier. But if "sin" has been removed from the dictionary does that mean I don't have to go to confession anymore?[/color][/quote]That's part of what made me laugh when I read the article. I know it's just for a junior dictionary, but removing sin? lol

So it looks like you're off the hook. =P

[Sara]

[quote name='Ace'][FONT="Comic Sans MS"]And on that note, MP3 Player? Seriously? Such a clunky, clumsy-sounding phrase. I'd much rather use "acorn" or "piglet."[/FONT][/QUOTE]"Hey, what did you get for Christmas?"

"Oh, man! My dad got me this awesome new acorn!"

"WOW! Lemme see! I wanted an piglet, but my dad thinks I'll listen to it during class. Can I try yours?"

[The Spectacular Professor]

[quote name='Sara']"WOW! Lemme see! I wanted an piglet, but my dad thinks I'll listen to it during class. Can I try yours?"[/QUOTE]

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]Come to think of it, I should probably get a new acorn. Mine's so old it's probably a tree by now.[/FONT]

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[quote name='Ace'][FONT="Comic Sans MS"]Come to think of it, I should probably get a new acorn. Mine's so old it's probably a tree by now.[/FONT][/QUOTE]

[color=#9933ff]I got an acorn for Christmas last year and yeah shock and awe I haven't used it yet. Yeah I can't seem to figure out how to hook it up to my piglet. And I'm bummed out too because there are so many sins I want to download.[/color]

[Rachmaninoff]

[quote name='ChibiHorsewoman][color=#9933ff']And I'm bummed out too because there are so many sins I want to download.[/color][/quote]Well in that case, just be happy for the ones you already have? =P

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[quote name='Rachmaninoff']Well in that case, just be happy for the ones you already have? =P[/QUOTE]

[color=#9933ff]Well Rach, I try... but dammit all to Hell (which hasn't been removed from the dictionary yet) if those sins aren't so addictive. A lot of them get stuck in my head and I just think about them all day.[/color]

[Aaryanna_Mom]

I can see how they would consider doing this to make the books easier for children to handle, but when it comes to that sort of thing, as a parent, we always stuck with a regular dictionary. Other than Aaryanna, most kids that I know (including my other children) in that age bracket never bothered to use a dictionary anyway. Usually they come and ask [I]you[/I] what a word means so having a smaller dictionary is a waste of money. However, for a school environment, it would make sense for them to have that available for students. Some of the word changes fit and some are odd though.