How gender-sensitised is the new Oxford English Dictionary?
The new dictionary takes note of gender-sensitive language. For example, all reference to man in generic terms has become human. But I find humankind one of the ugliest words to use. Society is generally more gender-sensitised, but you can’t go over the top. One has to be moderate and editors have to exercise a choice. Language can lose its colour with too much gender-sensitisation. Sometimes you have to use man, even if it is against the sentiment. How different is the OED Online version from the printed version? Essentially, the dictionary has remained the same since it was first written in 1928. Researchers have been constantly sifting material for new words and shift in meanings of words. A lot of words have come in form other languages and scholars have been studying the variations of the language in Asia, Europe and Africa. Names of countries have changed, currencies have changed, terms of measurement have changed. The smaller editions have incorporated the changes but the big OE
