[Dixielandjazz] Dixieland

[Charlie Hooks]

on 4/9/03 9:28 AM, Stephen Barbone at barbonestreet at earthlink.net wrote:

> For a treat list mates, look up "Dixieland" in your dictionary. Mine
> (Webster's 1998) says:
> 
> DIXIELAND: adj. "in, of, or like a style of small band, improvised jazz
> characterized by fast ragtime tempos and a strict beat, and associated
> historically with early white New Orleans musicians."


The lexicographers would claim they are only quoting general usage.  This
kind of crap is the result of descriptive grammarians.   Of course it's dead
wrong!  But they can't tell you what's right or wrong: that would be done by
a PREscriptive grammarian, and those people are all old fuddies.  Modern
descriptive dictionaries just quote what people do say, and if those people
are themselves ignorant, then you are stuck with misinformation.

Not very useful, is it?

Remember this next time you are tempted to use a dictionary to "win" an
argument.  Noah Webster spins in his grave with every new edition of "his"
dictionary.