[Air-l] origin of "blog"

[Alexander Halavais]

Bernard,

I suspect far more people know what a blog is, or even use a blog, than
are familiar with the general term "blog." I would tentatively suggest
this may be part of the problem with surveys that ask whether respondents
read "blogs."

Try asking your students if they know what a "blog" is and be prepared for
some blank stares. (Of course, try asking them what "velleity" means and
you will be met by the same blank stares. Blank stariness is perhaps not
the best metric for dictionary inclusion.)

This time next year, when everyone on AOL has their own blog, it will be
harder for lexicographers to look the other way :).

Alex

PS It is in the dictionary if you pay for the right dictionary: see
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=blog .

> -----Original Message-----
> From: air-l-admin at aoir.org [mailto:air-l-admin at aoir.org]On Behalf Of
> Bernard Stehle
> Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2003 12:31 PM
> To: air-l at aoir.org
> Subject: [Air-l] origin of "blog"
>
>
> Last week, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition
> (2003), appeared in bookstores for the first time. I was surprised not
> to find an entry for "blog."  I thought the term was at least 5 years
> old.  Am I right?  For how long has the term been in existence among
> bloggers?  (Webster's Tenth Edition, 1993, understandably did not
> include "blog"; a representative from M-W says, however, that even for
> the 2003 edition the term is neither old enough nor generally known
> enough outside bloggerhood to be included in the Eleventh. Am I
> justified in my astonishment, or is the rep telling it like it really
> is?)  --Bernard
>
>
>
>
>
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