You could do this now.
The OED2 - as most other modern dictionaries - are based around
databases. The OED2 has it's own XML format, PASADENA. Indeed, if you
made the OED2 database accessible by a standard method which is Open
to all[1], then it wouldn't be that hard to imagine such a database as
you describe augmenting the current OED2 project.
BTB, the modern OED is a distinctly Anglo-American affair, a twist to
the competing ideologies around American English and English English
(yes, I know it's a la mode to use the term British English; I don't
believe it exists.)
Roger
[1] I'm seeing pigs fly outside my window at this point.
On 9/8/07, Christopher Walker <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> A dictionary of the future, to imagine such a thing, will surely have to
> take account of what has clearly been a shift away from treating language as
> though it were first and foremost an independently self transforming code
> and towards something which is also (or perhaps mainly; Cf cognitive
> linguistics in all its various aspects) the result of various conceptual
> pressures from without. And I would also expect such a dictionary to be
> organised not as currently but rather along the lines of a database from
> which relations may be derived according to the needs of the enquirer.
>
> CW
> _______________________________________________
>
> That which is the future here, when read from right to left, has
> already happened. (Giorgio Manganelli)
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Roger Day" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 4:02 PM
> Subject: Re: Dust Bunnits / Etymology
>
>
> The OED, IIRC, is an historical dictionary; a dictionary of record. It
> doesn't pretend to cover the etymological roots of the words, although
> it might give a stab in that general direction. I wouldn't rely on it
> for etymological references etc. Most other dictionaries of this ilk -
> Chambers, Websters etc - follow this model.
>
> There are specialist - and affordable - etymological dictionaries
> which are quite useful.
>
> The comparison with the wikipedia is interesting in that both bodies
> of knowledge were built by volunteers, although how much of that is
> still true for the OED and it's massive databases, I don't know. I
> expect you'd hear massive howls of rage and whining should you
> seriously suggest turning the OED into a wiki.
>
>
> Roger
>
> On 9/7/07, Peter Cudmore <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > O, I thought the reference to the 'Shorter' was to the Shorter Oxford
> > English Dictionary, which I think I would blithely assume to inherit
> > whatever the OED had to offer, but in less detail.
> >
> > We had this argument over Wikipedia, didn't we? I would deny that
> > *anything*, by itself, is a good resource; one always needs to
> > triangulate.
> > OTOH, the resources Robin pointed to a while back -- the various European
> > and other etymologies -- require a higher degree of expertise to use.
> >
> > P
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Poetryetc: poetry and poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> > > Behalf Of MC Ward
> > > Sent: 07 September 2007 05:53
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: Re: Dust Bunnits / Etymology
> > >
> > > The point is that the OED isn't a particularly good
> > > resource when it comes to etymological issues.
> > >
> > > Candice
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- Peter Cudmore <[log in to unmask]>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > > And btw, I haven't seen any references to or
> > > > > recommendations of Shorter, where a lot of your
> > > > > etymological questions may be answered. I find it
> > > > very
> > > > > useful, especially when I consult it together with
> > > > a
> > > > > modern dictionary , such as Webster's 10th (the
> > > > newer
> > > > > edition of which should be even better.)
> > > > >
> > > > > Candice
> > > >
> > > > Ah that's easy: I have online access to the OED, and
> > > > I think Robin does too
> > > > (either that or a CD-Rom version).
> > > >
> > > > P
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > ____________________________________________________________________________
> > __
> > > ______
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>
>
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