SUO: Re: Conformance
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Matthew West wrote:
>
> Dear John,
>
> Well I think I am with you. In this discussion I have
> been taking the position that the SUO is essentially a
> posh dictionary, and that the only sensible conformance
> statement you can make is of using the terms in it with
> the meaning given in the "dictionary", rather than some
> other meaning.
Once again, let me try to establish the totally naive point
that the only reason why anybody would ever desire to conform
to the dictations that happen to be recorded in some dictionary
is if that dictionary conforms to something independent of itself,
like actual usage in some community. Moreover, the best reason why
anybody would want to conform to the usage embodied in some community
is if that usage enables that community to conform to some reality
independent of itself. None of this robs dictionaries of their
power to innovate and to regulate usage, but it does require
dictionary makers to be cognizant of what it is they can
and cannot have power over.
Jon Awbrey
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