Words, words, too many words

The Oxford English Dictionary may disappear from bookshelves as future editions may be too big to print, its publishers fear.

Only an online format would be practicable and affordable as the third edition is expected to be twice the size of the current version, according to its publishers.

The publishers say the third edition of the famous dictionary, estimated to fill 40 volumes, is running at least 20 years behind schedule,The Telegraphreported.

The mammoth masterpiece is facing delays because “information overload” from the Internet is slowing compilers, Michael Proffitt, the OED’s first new chief editor for 20 years, said. Mr. Proffitt’s team of 70 philologists, including lexicographers, etymologists and pronunciation experts, has been working on the latest version, known as ‘OED3’, for the past 20 years.

The next edition will not be completed until 2034, and likely only to be offered in an online form because of its gargantuan size, Mr. Proffitt toldCountry Lifemagazine.

Work on the new version, currently numbering 800,000 words, has been going on since 1994, the report said. — PTI

Courtesy and Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/words-words-too-many-words/article5935510.ece