Re: USAGE: -ic(al) Re: [CONLANG] Most developed conlang

taliesin the storyteller wrote:
> * T. A. McLeay said on 2007-04-30 01:42:10 +0200
>> taliesin the storyteller wrote:
>>> * MorphemeAddict@WMCONNECT.COM said on 2007-04-29 01:07:02 +0200
>>>> Actually the word is spelled "politically".  Your dictionary
>>>> must be wrong.
>>> Dictionaries of English can't be wrong, as it is only the
>>> dictionaries themselves that define how English is spelled.
>> Actually, they can be. Dictionaries don’t define how English is spelt;
>> usage defines English. Dictionaries are just a usually accurate and
>> reliable record of usage for us to consult when we need to. (And yes,
>> mistakes do happen: The New International Dictionary had the non-word
>> _dord_ for a while. This didn’t make _dord_ a word.)
>
> Ah, but some people started using _dord_ *as if* it was a word, ergo
> making it one :)
Exactly! It was when people start using _dord_ as if it was a word that
made it one, not when it was put in the dictionary! Any case, not enough
people have done that that it’s included in the online dictionaries I
know of.

>Anyway, dictionary-makers often add nonsense-words in
> order to be able detect if anyone rips them off. If their nonsense-words
> show up in other dictionaries they can then send out their squads of
> rabid attack copyright-lawyers.
You know, you’re only arguing *my* case now :)

--
Tristan.

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