1、The new Webster international dictionary of international English （the third edition） was a strange phenomenon when it was first published in a number of famous newspapers. There has never been such an unbridled attack and insult from such a scholarly masterpiece. An article in the Atlantic magazine
2、 described the dictionary as disappointing, shockinga great misfortuneshame and disaster. The New York times published a monograph that said the dictionary would speed up the process of degenerative English and sharply criticized the editors for their negative expectations. Journal of the American l
3、awyer to argue that the dictionary is the publication of unfortunate incidentoutstanding example of the editor irresponsiblea heavy blow to the standardization of English business. The article in life magazine called the dictionary a useless sea of words, calling it ridiculousawful and painful. This
4、 paper, the authors also said they suspect in writing Lincolns Gettysburg address will refer to this dictionary. This view is not very clearly shows that Lincoln way of writing, is that in life magazine article is how to write.What exactly caused the uproar and anger? Published this dictionary of wh
5、eat in publishing companies may be called is the worlds largest dictionary publishers, the companies said they work for planning the publication of this dictionary cost $three million five hundred thousand, mobilized three hundred experts and scholars spent 27 years of effort to complete the vocabul
6、ary in any language in the worlds largest thesaurus. Is it all a con game?Since the difference between reputation and reputation is so great, it is necessary to first discuss the basic principles of lexicographic work. What is the meaning of a dictionary? What is the task of a dictionary? What is th
7、e purpose of the general reader to check the dictionary? What do people have to expect from a dictionary after buying a dictionary?Before we get into the basic principles of lexicographer, we need to make two points. The first thing to note is that the dictionary deals with words. Some dictionary in
8、 addition to vocabulary also offers a variety of other useful information on: some conversion table, weights and measures on the lining page attached some timeline lists the major historical events, there are some dictionary with household health providers. There is nothing wrong with that. But the
9、surge in English vocabulary in the last 30 years has forced all dictionaries to try to make space more efficient. If want to delete what content from the dictionary, reasonable method is to delete these additional content first, and the word is given priority to.The second point that needs to be mad
10、e is that the progress made in lexicographic compilation over the past three decades has exceeded the pace of development in automobile manufacturing. Can, for example, has been widely praised the Webster international English dictionary （second edition） from the savage attacks （1934） and the Webste
11、rs new international dictionary of the English language （third edition） （1961） is not similar to the difference between models of the launch of the previous and next year to launch the difference between the models, and more like the carriage and the difference between cars. In the period before the
12、 release of the second edition and the third edition, a new discipline related to the compilation of lexics-descriptive linguistics was born.The foundation of modern linguistics is Leonard. The language theory of Bloomfield （1933）. Bloomfield was a professor of Germanic literature at the university
13、of Chicago for thirteen years and was a professor of linguistics at Yale university for nine years. He was one of the most groundbreaking scholars not only of one subject, but of the same kind.The accepted ideas and ways of doing things are by no means accepted blindly by the majority of people. Now
14、 anfield is both linguists and anthropologists, his understanding of language is not according to the stern frank the formation of the basic elements of style, but had to kerry, Indian dialects formed on the basis of investigation and research. The main research results of descriptive linguistics ar
15、e as follows:All languages are a system of human custom, not a system of natural law. Whatever the language, the first and most fundamental step is to observe and accurately record the use of language for speakers of the language.The pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary of each language have distin
16、ctive features. 21 0 any language cant through the logic or from the perspective of some theoretical and idealistic language to describe, nor from the perspective of any other language to describe, cant even use its early forms to describe.All languages are developed, not static. Therefore, the rule
17、s of any language can only account for its current usage. The rule changes are frequent - and normal.4. The correctness of language use can only be judged by usage, for the simple reason that there is no other criterion. And all usage is relative. According to these views should be able to conclude
18、that a dictionary only when it can comprehensively and accurately described the current usage of words is a good dictionary, and to do comprehensive, it must contain descriptions of some aspects such as social and regional situation.7 people need new dictionaries because English has changed more in
19、the past two generations than ever before. A new dictionary must adapt yourself to the following: the condition of the new era of culture and science and technology by leaps and bounds, the two world wars, the development of transportation and communication of enormous change and migration on an unp
20、recedented scale.More subtle, but it is very common, the popularization of education and the development of democracy also bring some impact to the English, the number of use of written English due to the rapid growth and an unprecedented number of reasons, English has tended to be more practical, m
21、ore popular. Every book published in the United States today has some pages that seem to be full of nonsense and nonsense. But in fact they are not meaningless gibberish. Their existence merely indicates that we cannot use the language of the previous generation as a template for the next generation
22、 to follow.Its not that you shouldnt do it, its that you cant do it. Life magazine, for example, has published an editorial in a certain period, it is declared to Webster international English dictionary （second edition）, can be in this issue of the journal life has appeared more than forty in the t
23、hird edition of was not seen in the second edition of vocabulary, structure and meaning. The first edition of the New York times called the second version of its staunch support, while the third was a hoax and a hoax. Can this issue of the New York times, but in the one hundred and fifty-three inclu
24、ded in the third edition, but not in the second edition of the words, phrases and syntax structure, also with the 19 were condemned by the second edition of the words. These words and phrases have been repeated many times, so there are more than three hundred such words in the New York times. The Wa
25、shington post in an article titled keep your old Websters editorial, begins the first words he said, don t throw it away （dont throw it away）, the second sentence and he said, hang on to it （hug） it. However, in the old merriam-webster dictionary, dont is labeled colloquial usage, while the meaning
26、of hang on to is not included.In a word,All of the articles in these newspapers were written in the third edition of the language, and even the editorials that attacked the third edition were no exception. Its no coincidence, because the third edition is not conclude any new language use standard, i
27、t is merely to life, and the Washington post and the New York times and other newspapers and the use of language to describe. Many of the dictionarys content is based on these newspapers, especially the New York times, which provides more examples of the dictionary than any other newspaper.These new
28、spapers have no choice. Any newspaper today, if it limits itself to only the American language of 28 years ago, it may not be able to sell a single issue; It cant even talk about the things we care about; Its style must be rigid and inflexible. If the third version of the editorial comment wasnt kid
29、ding - as well as the shareholders of newspaper readers - there is a reason to appreciate these newspaper writer, their cultural level is higher than editor masters. Lets return to the question of the discussion: what is the use of a dictionary? How can a dictionary carry out its mission most effect
30、ively in 1962? The requirements are simple. The purpose of the general reader is to find out the spelling, pronunciation, meaning and proper use of words. He wants to know what is universal and what is right. He wanted to know - he also had the right to know - the real situation, the absolute truth.
31、 Account for any language, however, is especially true in todays American English, many language phenomenon is impossible to say exactly understand, and too simplistic and easy to cause misunderstanding.The dictionary cannot give an absolute authoritative account even in the more definitive question of spelling. Theaters spelling is correct, but theatre is equally correct. Similar situations include traveled
