DELETED WORDS: dandelion, beaver, heron, magpie, otter,
acorn, clover, ivy, sycamore, willow and blackberry.
ADDED WORDS: blog, MP3 player, voice mail, electronic
BlackBerry, and broadband.
These are the changes made in the latest
edition of the dictionary for schoolchildren published by Oxford University
Press.
The 10,000-word junior dictionary is aimed at readers around
the age of seven.
The replacements were made to reflect the frequency with
which the words would be used by children.
The rejection of the biological vocabulary for an electronic
vocabulary provides compelling evidence of how adults are fostering alienation between
children and the wondrous world of plants, rocks, critters, puddles, and twigs. Without words for the non-human realm of existence, children can’t conceptualize it. Without concepts,
they can’t become familiar with it. Without familiarity, they won’t respect and preserve the
dynamic forces that permit life to exist on this planet.
'Nature' words can never be obsolete. Human survival is utterly dependent upon plants and animals, water and air, soil and sun. Electronics are luxury items to enjoy after we attend to our non-human relationships. Let us retain these words before they die and require a miracle for their resurrection - if we live that long.
(This story was reported in the Canadian Press. December 10, 2008)
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