Date:  Mon, 27 Oct 1997 16:09:15 -0600
From:  Greg Pulliam <gpulliam[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CHARLIE.IIT.EDU>
Subject: Re: PC Dictionaries?

>why is Merriam getting singled out?
>
>Jesse Sheidlower
>Random House Reference
><jester[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]panix.com>

Because bullying tactics work better against single victims. If NAACP
attacked all dictionary publishers at the same time, there'd be a chorus of
protests, instead of a single "little" voice of a single publisher. The
tactic presumes that all other publishers will keep quiet in hopes that
their names won't come up. But if NAACP is successful with M-W, RH, AHD,
and NW will be next in line.

What's striking, but unsurprising, is how the NAACP press release assumes
that dictionaries define usage. We need a CHORUS of dictionary editors to
go on Larry King Live and talk about descriptive lexicography.

Gregory J. Pulliam
Illinois Institute of Technology
Lewis Department of Humanities
Chicago, IL  60616
gpulliam[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]charlie.cns.iit.edu