The OED got back to me about articulate

I recently posted a poll about "articulate", a much more problematic word than is obvious. A lot of people think it's obviously a compliment, and a lot think it's obviously an insult. I think "obviously" is much more about internal experience than we're encouraged to think. If there are any Lojbanists on this bus, does "obviously" have some handy "obvious to whom?" markers? Does cognitive behavior therapy encourage asking "obvious to whom?"?

I sent an email to the OED, and here's what I got back:

The OED entry was written for the first edition and originally published
in 1885; it has not been touched since and is badly in need of revision.
Our other dictionaries define the standard modern sense in neutral
terms: 'Of a person: able to express himself or herself fluently and
clearly' (Shorter OED, sixth edition, 2007). In British use the
adjective is usually perceived as mildly complimentary, but a comment
such as 'Articulate, isn't she?' would be understood as meaning 'this
woman is talking too much'.

The poll's been added to their revision list. I don't know how long it takes them to work through that list, but meanwhile, are there any other words that might be worth exploring?

The OED got back to me about articulate

I recently posted a poll about "articulate", a much more problematic word than is obvious. A lot of people think it's obviously a compliment, and a lot think it's obviously an insult. I think "obviously" is much more about internal experience than we're encouraged to think. If there are any Lojbanists on this bus, does "obviously" have some handy "obvious to whom?" markers? Does cognitive behavior therapy encourage asking "obvious to whom?"?

I sent an email to the OED, and here's what I got back:

The OED entry was written for the first edition and originally published
in 1885; it has not been touched since and is badly in need of revision.
Our other dictionaries define the standard modern sense in neutral
terms: 'Of a person: able to express himself or herself fluently and
clearly' (Shorter OED, sixth edition, 2007). In British use the
adjective is usually perceived as mildly complimentary, but a comment
such as 'Articulate, isn't she?' would be understood as meaning 'this
woman is talking too much'.

The poll's been added to their revision list. I don't know how long it takes them to work through that list, but meanwhile, are there any other words that might be worth exploring?

World's Oldest Jokes

http://uktv.co.uk/dave/item/aid/604717

Link thanks to The Agitator

World's Oldest Jokes

http://uktv.co.uk/dave/item/aid/604717

Link thanks to The Agitator

First they came for the "drug dealers'" dogs....

http://www.theagitator.com/2008/07/31/mayors-dogs-killed-in-drug-raid/#comments

This one is remarkably horrifying.

Link thanks to The Agitator.

First they came for the "drug dealers'" dogs....

http://www.theagitator.com/2008/07/31/mayors-dogs-killed-in-drug-raid/#comments

This one is remarkably horrifying.

Link thanks to The Agitator.

I realize conspiracy theories aren't respectable,

but I think Iraqis could be forgiven for holding them.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/01/anthrax/index.html

Tremendous fishiness around anthrax. If it *wasn't* a top US scientist, what are they covering up?

Link thanks to james_nicoll. Weirdness because I honestly don't know how to deal with this.

I realize conspiracy theories aren't respectable,

but I think Iraqis could be forgiven for holding them.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/01/anthrax/index.html

Tremendous fishiness around anthrax. If it *wasn't* a top US scientist, what are they covering up?

Link thanks to james_nicoll. Weirdness because I honestly don't know how to deal with this.