Stefan Fatsis on 'Unabridged': The Thrill and Threat to Modern Dictionaries

Inside Merriam-Webster's Lexicography

• ✍️ Author Stefan Fatsis spent three years embedded at Merriam-Webster, gaining access to lexicographers and even a desk and key to observe the word selection and definition process.
• 🤫 The editorial floor maintained a strict "no talking" policy, a quiet atmosphere reminiscent of a library, reflecting the meticulous nature of word definition.
• 📄 16 million citation slips form a vast archive of American English usage, chronicling language and history, though their digitization remains a concern due to cost and preservation risks.

Noah Webster Jr.'s Vision for American English

• 🇺🇸 Noah Webster Jr. was a revolutionary figure who championed an American national identity through a distinct American English, separate from British influence.
• 🗣️ He advocated for language Americanization, including simplified spellings (e.g., removing 'k' from 'music') and even phonetic spellings, though some were later abandoned due to backlash.
• 🙏 Webster's Calvinist faith influenced his 1828 dictionary, imbuing definitions with religious overtones and biblical examples, a version still used by some Christian fundamentalists today.

The Dictionary as a Tool and Cultural Artifact

• 📚 Callers shared powerful stories of how dictionaries were life-changing tools for self-improvement, overcoming adversity, and achieving success.
• 🎁 Dictionaries were historically marketed as tools for advancement, empowering immigrants and individuals to improve their lives and societal standing.
• 📖 The decline of print dictionaries is noted, with new print editions now serving as throwback items, akin to vinyl records, appealing to those who enjoy the serendipity of browsing a physical book.

Dictionaries in the Age of AI and Evolving Language

• 🤖 Artificial intelligence poses a significant threat, with AI models like ChatGPT appearing to have ingested dictionary data, leading to lawsuits from publishers like Merriam-Webster's parent company.
• ⚖️ Dictionaries are navigating the challenge of using AI for information while protecting their proprietary work from being freely used by AI developers.
• 🧐 The book highlights the tension between preserving traditional language standards and the need for dictionaries to be descriptive, cataloging how language is actually used, including slang and evolving meanings.

Handling Harmful Language and Evolving Definitions

• ⚠️ Lexicographers grapple with defining slurs and offensive terms, aiming for an academic approach to document their existence and evolution within culture.
• 📈 The n-word is noted as one of the most looked-up words online, and editors' approaches to labeling and defining such terms have evolved significantly over the decades, reflecting societal changes.
• 🗣️ Dictionaries adapt to changing usage, such as the acceptance of