Re: CHAT: Support/Oppression of Conlanging

Christophe Grandsire sikyal:

> > (totalitarian left--we don't have a really good term for this). If
> > your narrow definition of "fascist" includes Stalin then your narrow
> > definition needs to be revised.
> >
>
> No thanks. It's the definition I was taught and the one I found in French
> dictionaries (they add "properly refers only to the Mussolinian regime").
Interesting.  I found this in the OED:

Fascist _n_:

One of a body of Italian nationalists, which was organized in 1919 to
oppose communism in Italy, and, as the partito nazionale fascista, under
the leadership of Benito Mussolini (1883-1945), controlled that country
from 1922 to 1943; also transf. applied to the members of similar
organizations in other countries. Also, a person having Fascist sympathies
or convictions; (loosely) a person of right-wing authoritarian views.
                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Which corresponds with:

Fascism _n_:

The principles and organization of Fascists. Also, loosely, any form of
right-wing authoritarianism.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

So in English, at least, the proper definition of Fascism does indeed
correlate to a right-leaning form of authoritarianism or totalitarianism,
which may be contrasted with communism.

If the French dictionaries actually say differently, then we may be
dealing with a legitimate linguistic difference. As far as that goes, I'm
willing to agree to disagree, though I maintain that it's more useful to
not make fascist and totalitarian synonyms.

Jesse S. Bangs jaspax@u.washington.edu
http://students.washington.edu/jaspax/

"If you look at a thing nine hundred and ninety-nine times, you are
perfectly safe; if you look at it the thousandth time, you are in
frightful danger of seeing it for the first time."
--G.K. Chesterton

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