Posted on 08/29/2010 5:09:06 PM PDT by Stoat
It was first published 126 years ago and is respected the world over.
But the Oxford English Dictionary will never appear in print again, its owners have announced.
Instead, the 80 lexicographers who have been working on the third edition for the past 21 years have been told the fruits of their labour will exist solely online.
The OED has been available on the internet for the past ten years and receives two million hits a month from subscribers who pay £205 a year, plus VAT, to access it.
Oxford University Press says the dominance of the internet means the latest update to the definitive record of the English language - currently 28 per cent complete - will never be published in print.
'The print dictionary market is just disappearing - it is falling away by tens of per cent a year,' said Nigel Portwood, 44, chief executive of OUP.
'Our primary purpose - and this takes a bit of adjusting to - is not profit, it is the dissemination of knowledge,' he said.
'Print is still pretty important round here but, wherever possible, if there is an opportunity, we are moving out of it.'
The printed dictionary has a shelf life of another 30 years, he predicts.
The third edition is only expected to be completed by 2037. The OUP has already stopped producing illustrated reference books because of the growing popularity of the Wikipedia website.
R
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I did get a set of “World Book” for free. I asked a clerk at a local Salvation Army type store how much they were and he said I could just have them.
World Book is really a pretty good encyclopedia.
I have a Nephew who is a Jag Colonel and possibly the smartest person I have ever known. He told me he plans on getting a set of used Britannica before long as he also likes the book format.
I doubt I will ever run across a 1913 copy but even the 1960’s era one is surprisingly non PC.
My sister got me started going to these used book sales. Four of us are going to the big Centenary Book Sale in a couple of weeks.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20100828/NEWS01/8280322/Centenary-College-s-giant-book-sale-to-return-for-24th-year
Centenary College’s giant book sale to return for 24th year
Books were banned in Fahrenheit 451
And for the work that featured words that would be changed in order to 'adjust' history, you 'may' be thinking of George Orwell's 1984
My parents bought a New Standard for me in about 1960; it was published in 1945. Used it a few times. We continued purchasing the annual updates for about 40 years.
In 1966 my mom started buying the Funk and Wagnals in the grocery store. One volume a week. Took the set to recyling a few weeks ago. Still subscribe to the annual update (starting in 1962)
Yep. Cram more words into fewer pages then charge more. Just trying to increase profit.
Fortunately, most of the books I buy are 19th century through the first half of the 20th century. The only contemporary books I buy are hardcover current events and the novels of those writers I like. The hard covers are usually printed fairly well.
I use Webster´s New World Dictionary 1957 almost exclusively.
OUP throws in the towel, in favor of WIKIPEDIA!?!
This is like discontinuing Grey's Anatomy in favor of The Visible Man/Woman models. /sarc> ...maybe.
I guess this means I can’t sell my vintage ~1970 World Books? Dang, and it’s a complete set!
One could always print it out.
Very sad but understandable. I have 2 of the short versions, which I have not consulted more than 5 times in the last 10 years. Same with my excellent encyclopedia set. It’s all there on the Internet now.
I read a book last year about the publication of the first edition of the OED. Fascinating.
Until the battery dies, while sitting in the outhouse at deer camp.
The local library had a book sale in which they were clearly just trying to get rid of a bunch. You could fill a large shopping bag full for a dollar.
I got a couple of bags full. It took quite a bit of looking but I got some surprisingly good ones including one which was full of 11X14 lithographs of famous paintings. They were all suitable for framing.
I read that book last winter.
I once saw an episode of Star Trek Next Generation where Captain Picard enjoyed reading a printed book while drinking a cup of tea. I repeat: Technology will never be able to replace that joy.
My battery lasts three weeks. Some new units that will be on the market by Christmas have solar rechargers. They will never need to be plugged in.
When I was around 12 the local Piggly Wiggly started selling Funk and Wagnals. I bought the first volume for a quarter. That is the only one I got. I didn’t know they weren’t all a quarter.
I'm about as techie as they get, and I agree wholeheartedly. Bookstores and libraries evoke that kid-on-Christmas-morning feeling in me.
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