OED
Posted on March 26, 2005
I was browsing the Downtown Borders store today (well, yesterday) and happened to see a sign for the Oxford English Dictionary. All twenty volumes for $998.
Now, I know the English Language is extensive and it borrows many words from other languages, but is it really enough to fill 20 volumes? And more importantly, is it worth a thousand dollars? If I want to know the correct spelling of a word, I can type it in Google and it will usually correct me if I am wrong – even for obscure words. I can even ask it to define the word for me.
This isn’t a rant, but more from curiosty. I wonder how many of those they sell. I would guess that most of their sales are to libraries and other institutions. I would find it hard to believe they would sell many to individuals or families.
Related posts:
- Usage of the word “fuck”
- NaNoWriMo
- Review – Learn Norwegian Vocabulary – Gengo WordPower
- StarDict
- First Night
Leave a Comment
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
You’re absolutely correct. The OED is found in University libraries, probably larger public libraries, too. It’s nice because it doesn’t just have word and definition, it has the entire history and etymology of the word. It’s chock full o’ goodness, but it’s also mighty helpful if you’re looking to study the language in depth. I found it very helpful when having to delve into Old English for a “History of English” class. Scholars and translators would also find it useful, but not many others, which is why I don’t think you’d find the OED in many places outside universities.
You could probably play one heck of a game of Scrabble with that dictionary!