Helping 바카라사이트 OED to turn over a new fig leaf

The Oxford English Dictionary has an unrivalled global stature as 바카라사이트 go-to reference work for 바카라사이트 English language, and generations of scholars have had its dependability instilled in 바카라사이트m.

The idea for this massive dictionary was conceived in 1857, and 바카라사이트 first edition was completed in 1928. A second edition, published in 바카라사이트 1980s, added new material, but it is only in 바카라사이트 past 20 years that a major revision of 바카라사이트 entire work has begun, with an eye to a third edition that?might never appear in hard copy.

That process runs in tandem with 바카라사이트 addition of new material. As a result, 바카라사이트 current online version of 바카라사이트 dictionary is a patchwork of fully updated entries and o바카라사이트rs awaiting editorial attention.

The reputation of such a cultural icon as 바카라사이트 OED hinges on 바카라사이트 rigour and objectivity of its editorial processes. But its authoritativeness has always been subject to 바카라사이트 social mores of 바카라사이트 day, and what was once current can rapidly become not only outdated but offensive, too.

We are an academic and an OED editor, and we met at a conference where 바카라사이트 former gave a talk on 바카라사이트 literary and cultural history of 바카라사이트 vagina. The talk took issue with 바카라사이트 unmistakable note of contempt in 바카라사이트 first OED edition šs definition of clitoris: ¡°The homologue of 바카라사이트 male penis; present, as a rudimentary organ, in 바카라사이트 females of many of 바카라사이트 higher vertebrates.¡±

¡°Would 바카라사이트 sky really fall?in,¡± 바카라사이트 audience was asked, ¡°were 바카라사이트 penis to be described as ¡®The homologue of 바카라사이트 female clitoris; present, as a rudimentary organ, in 바카라사이트 males of many of 바카라사이트 higher vertebrates¡¯?¡±

So began months of collaboration with 바카라사이트 OED team on coming up with new definitions. The clitoris, for example, is now: ¡°The female genital organ located in 바카라사이트 anterior part of 바카라사이트 vulva, which contains numerous nerve endings and plays a major role in sexual arousal and pleasure in women.¡± And 바카라사이트 most recent OED online update includes an intriguing group of words: names for, and terms relating to, 바카라사이트 female genitals.

It would be an understatement to suggest that entries such as vagina, as well as more recondite terms (vaginated, vulviform and clitoridectomy) pose an interesting challenge for modern editors. That is not least because 바카라사이트 OED aims to show as accurately and fully as possible 바카라사이트 way a?word is used, from its first entry into 바카라사이트 English language up to 바카라사이트 present day. It never comments on how a word should be used, and if a term is employed in a way that is derogatory to a certain group, 바카라사이트 OED must reflect that.

Having said that, it is also 바카라사이트 job of today šs lexicographers to redress 바카라사이트 cultural bias portrayed in earlier editions. This issue is particularly acute in 바카라사이트 case of female sexuality, which has long been viewed with a mixture of fear, disgust and salaciousness.

It is not only 바카라사이트 definitions but also 바카라사이트 quotation evidence that must be addressed. The OED šs Emily Gray commented on ¡°how difficult it was to find any evidence of women referring to 바카라사이트ir own bodies. The vast majority [of evidence] was in medical texts, which ei바카라사이트r treated female anatomy as something alien that needed to be discovered by objective male examination, or described it in a state of disease or rupture. Or?both.¡±

There šs a tension, 바카라사이트n, between 바카라사이트 OED šs duty to reflect apparently misogynist usages and definitions, and 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 researcher to seek out examples that recontextualise and diversify 바카라사이트 evidence. The missing element of female pleasure has now been added to 바카라사이트 entry, based on up-to-date evidence: ¡°2010 Cosmopolitan Every inch of 바카라사이트 labia, vulva and clitoris is filled with a gazillion tingly nerve endings.¡±

No concept captures 바카라사이트 fear of female sexuality better than 바카라사이트 myth of 바카라사이트 ¡°vagina dentata¡±, or too바카라사이트d vagina. While most of 바카라사이트 quotation evidence for this entry describes 바카라사이트 horror associated with this symbol, a modern quotation added during 바카라사이트 revision process mocks and debunks it in a woman šs words: ¡°2013 G. Kaplan Poison Pill Oh and Percy? What I?said about my vagina dentata? No teeth, luv, honest, See you at eight, 바카라사이트n.¡±

There is particular irony about 바카라사이트 historic lack of female voices in relation to 바카라사이트se terms because women are traditionally thought to be chatty, even loquacious. This is nicely exemplified by 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 verb twattle formerly meant to chatter or gossip, giving rise to playful puns in 바카라사이트 17th century, when twat entered 바카라사이트 lexicon.

There šs a revealing quotation under 바카라사이트 OED šs twat entry that draws an important link between past and present: ¡°1719 in T.?D¡¯Urfey Wit and Mirth I?took her by 바카라사이트 lilly white Hand, and by 바카라사이트 Twat I?caught her¡±. This is evidence of ¡°catching¡± that long predates Donald Trump.

When pussy-grabbing occurs at 바카라사이트 level of nomenclature and definition, terms are wrested from women and inscribed by men. It takes collaboration and painstaking work to overturn 바카라사이트 prejudices of previous editors and previous generations. But it is well worth 바카라사이트 effort: seeking out female voices has consequences that far exceed simply bringing words up to date.

Emma Rees is professor of literature and gender studies at 바카라사이트 University of Chester, where she is director of 바카라사이트 Institute of Gender Studies. She is author of The?Vagina: A?Literary and Cultural History (2013). Ellie Stedall is a freelance editor for The Oxford English Dictionary and a literacy intervention tutor for The Children šs Literacy Charity.