Outline of What's the dictionary for

Outline

Thesis: The Webster?s Third New International Dictionary is not flawless at all and need to be improved. But it?s wise and practical to use

the Third International instead of the Second.

Ⅰ. Introduce the causes of the problem and put forward the question: what?s a dictionary for.

⒈illustrates the negative reaction of the popular press

⒉states the claim of the dictionary maker, the G. R C. Merriam

Company.

⒊puts forward the question: what?s a dictionary for.

ⅡThere are two statements of dictionaries? making.

⒈ A dictionary is concerned with words, so it?s wise to eliminate

unrelated information and stick to words.

⒉There has been greatest progress in the making of dictionaries in the

past 30 years.

①T he science of descriptive linguistics, has come into being.

②The broad general findings of the new science, and these findings

follow a good dictionary should give a comprehensive and accurate description of current usage.

ⅢThe third International is compiled on the basis of the science of

descriptive linguistics and trying to describe how people are using words. It reflects the changes in people?s use of words objectively.

And this give good evidence against the abuse of the popular press. ⒈Analyzes the reasons why new dictionaries are needed.

①English has changed more in the past two generations than at any

other time in its history.

②English has changed under the influence of mass education and the

growth of democracy.

⒉Shows the Third International reflects the changes in people?s use of

words objectively and this gives good evidences against the abuse.

①The third International just describes what the presses are doing.

Much of the dictionary's material comes from these very publications.

②The papers have no choice but to use the language in the Third

International.

Ⅳ A good dictionary should record the fact. The Third International had precisely reached that.

⒈What?s a dictionary for? The common reader turns to a dictionary for

information about the spelling, pronunciation, and meaning.

①There are many words in language which may be spelled with equal

correctness, in either of two ways.

a)Theater and theatre

b)Traveled and traveled

c)Plow and plough

d)Catalog and catalogue

②There are also many words that have two correct pronunciations.

a)Pronounce economics as ECKuhnomiks or EEKuhnomiks both

correct

③The meaning of a word is complex, subtle and forever changing, so

can?t be too simple.

⒉Advantages of Webster?s Third International over the Webster?s

Second International.

①Quote of an editorial about “door” in Washington Post.

②Analyze that the definition of …door?is not brevity, but is more

accurate and acceptable in the Third International than the Second.

ⅤConcludes that the Third International is not flawless at all and need to be improved. But it?s wise and practical to use the Third International instead of the Second.