If you have ever been confused about a particular word, you may want to check out the dictionary by Merriam-Webster. This American company is well known for its reference books and dictionaries. They are also the oldest dictionary publisher in the United States.
Origins
The Merriam-Webster dictionary is the most comprehensive record of the English language. Its history dates to the dictionaries of Noah Webster and Joseph Emerson Worcester.
While Noah Webster’s lexicography was based on a vastly different culture, the dictionary has a lot in common with the modern edition. Both dictionaries written to document the current usage of English and to define words in a way that will allow Americans to speak with confidence.
In the early 1800s, a slew of dictionaries began to appear. Some of them were revisions of Noah Webster’s work and some were unofficial reprints.
By the time Webster died in 1843, several dictionaries had published. These dictionaries included the American College Dictionary, the New Oxford American, the New World Dictionary, the Random House college dictionary, the Webster’s Third New International, and the Webster’s Imperial dictionary.
Noah Webster’s work stood out for its scope and for its innovative spellings. For example, it introduced American words that not commonly used in Britain.
One of the most popular editions of the Merriam-Webster dictionary is the CD-ROM version. It usually packaged with the print edition. This CD-ROM version includes thousands of words that have not appeared in the Merriam-Webster dictionary until now. Among the new words are: oobleck, chicharron, dad bod, and pandemic-related phrases.
After Noah Webster’s death, his son-in-law, Chauncey A. Goodrich, entrusted with the publishing rights. He published an abridgment of Webster’s dictionary in 1829.
When Noah Webster’s first dictionary completed, it contained 70,000 words. However, his copyright lapsed in 1834. During the next two decades, he continued to expand the dictionary.
His dictionary considered the best since Samuel Johnson’s in 1755. At one point, Webster’s dictionary sold only 2,500 copies.
Social media strategy
The social media strategy for Dictionary by Merriam-Webster has evolved a lot in the past year. At first, it seemed to be a humdrum and predictable presence, albeit a good one. But now, Merriam-Webster has built out an editorial team to advertise their brand across the internet.
They’ve also launched the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Edition for free on their website. And it’s not just the dictionary’s collegiate fans who are enjoying this nifty feature. This year, Merriam-Webster’s Twitter account gained more than 200,000 followers.
According to a recent report, the Merriam-Webster Twitter account has been responsible for a lot of witticisms and political burns over the past year. Some of these have picked up by NBC News and the Washington Post.
The dictionary company has been around for nearly 200 years. However, it took some smarts to make its social media presence more than a gimmick. Now, it’s a devoted follower base with more than a million views a month.
One of the most impressive things about the Merriam-Webster Twitter account is that it’s politically relevant. In addition to witticisms and snark, the dictionary has also been involved in fighting back against the Trump campaign’s use of alternative facts.
While the Merriam-Webster account has gained attention from major publications like the Washington Post and Vox, it’s not the only social media strategy that’s making waves. Naturale’s Twitter strategy is picking up steam as well. She’s hired a team of writers and has focused on Twitter as part of a larger content strategy.
Although the dictionary may be a long-time player on the social media scene, it’s taken on a new challenge: regaining people’s interest in the language. Not only has the dictionary created new words, it’s also tried to understand why certain words are trending.
Imposter syndrome
Imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern. Its main symptom is the belief that one does not deserve the success they have received. The resulting feelings of shame, self-doubt and insecurity can be crippling.
It is a common affliction and has even studied scientifically. However, it still not included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
It is a societal pressure to prove oneself and achieve the next level. This, combined with high achievement values in families, can make a person prone to impostor syndrome.
Fortunately, it can manage. The first step is to recognize it. Then, apply supportive language to yourself and others. A simple “I believe in you” is a good start.
Another good way to combat the syndrome is to eliminate the limiting belief that success is the result of luck. For example, a perfectionist believes that they need to run like Usain Bolt to succeed.
To be sure, it is not as easy as that. You need to have a willingness to try and a willingness to fail. Once you have those two elements, you are well on your way.
The best way to get over it is to surround yourself with supportive people. Also, a little professional development and a few retooling of your teaching methods can help.
Another thing to keep in mind is that impostor syndrome is not a one-size-fits-all. People who experience it are of all ages and backgrounds.
As a female in a male-dominated field, I often find myself battling impostor syndrome. But that does not mean I am powerless. In fact, it can be a good thing.
What does it mean to be an impostor? For most people, it means that they have a false belief about themselves. Whether it’s about their abilities, their accomplishments, or their social status, this is a very real concern.
Racism
The Merriam-Webster dictionary has changed its definition of racism. It now includes an explicit mention of systemic oppression. This decision comes at a time when racial injustice is in the spotlight.
According to Merriam-Webster, racism is a political program based on a social or political system that promotes discrimination against people of color. This definition is not complete, though. As a student, Kennedy Mitchum noticed that this term did not adequately convey the real-world consequences of racism. She wrote to the dictionary company to request a new definition.
According to Merriam-Webster’s editor at large, Peter Sokolowski, the entry for racism in need of a change. He explained that this was the first time this definition had revised in over 50 years. Until now, it had construed as a broadly inclusive term.
While the dictionary often used to justify reverse racism, a more comprehensive definition could help anti-racists make their case. Currently, the Merriam-Webster definition does not account for microaggressions. But it also fails to recognize systemic oppression.
Recently, a black woman from Missouri wrote to the Merriam-Webster dictionary to request a change to the word. She said she became aware of the shortcomings of the current definition four years ago. During this time, she had been in arguments with people who used the term to justify racist behavior.
After reading the Merriam-Webster definition, Kennedy Mitchum realized that it did not tell the whole story. In addition to racial hierarchy, the entry included references to the Nazi regime. Several scholars have pointed out the need to acknowledge systemic oppression.
Since this change has made, the Merriam-Webster dictionary will now include more elaborate definitions. In the past, the definition of racism only focused on personal beliefs and racial superiority.
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