Re: answer to Lloyd and Dylan. - definition artifact/artefact


Eric Stevens wrote:
On Sun, 09 Jul 2006 22:39:39 +0100, Doug Weller
<dweller@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Sun, 09 Jul 2006 11:48:50 -0700, in sci.archaeology, Russell Sheptak
wrote:

In article <GdTrg.8175$E02.2470@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
"Inger-Eleonora" <inger_e.johansson@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Lloyd and Dylan,
how about reading Oxford's definition instead of pick on me because I, as
well as others here and elsewhere use same as Oxford??????

Artifact definition found here:
http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/artefact?view=uk

"artefact
/aartifakt/ (US artifact)

. noun a functional or decorative man-made object.

- ORIGIN from Latin arte 'using art' + factum 'something made'."

------------
In other word accept that definition. That's the one that's valid. Your
personal views aren't.

Inger E


To elaborate a point that I think Tom M. made originally, different
scientific fields often develop specialized technical vocabularies that
aren't necessarily congruent with the dictionary definitions of the same
word or words. These technical vocabularies often become a short hand
way of refering to larger concepts. This used to be part of a basic
intro to the History of Science when I was an undergrad.

The Oxford English dictionary definition isn't useful here, since we're
talking about the discipline of archaeology with its technical
vocabulary.


Exactly. Dictionaries are often very unhelpful, even misleading, when
trying to determine the technical use of words in specific contexts.

In all fairness to the Oxford English Dictionary, its authors attempt
to cover all usages of all words from the widest range of sources.
This includes scientific publications.

A problem is that new usages are continually emerging and the
dictionary must lag behind by a number of years. Another problem is
that the technical scientific 'shorthand' meaning which is ascribed to
a word today may not be the same as it was even ten years ago or will
be ten years in the future. For this reason it is unwise to insist
that particular words must carry specific meanings which are carved in
stone.


Now that is a good an argument as any why OED should not be referenced
to state meanings of what 'artifact'/'artefact' means.

##minty...

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: answer to Lloyd and Dylan. - definition artifact/artefact
    ... These technical vocabularies often become a short hand ... to cover all usages of all words from the widest range of sources. ... to state meanings of what 'artifact'/'artefact' means. ... OED Online has this definition: ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Re: answer to Lloyd and Dylan. - definition artifact/artefact
    ... Artifact definition found here: ... These technical vocabularies often become a short hand ... to cover all usages of all words from the widest range of sources. ... that the technical scientific 'shorthand' meaning which is ascribed to ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Re: answer to Lloyd and Dylan. - definition artifact/artefact
    ... These technical vocabularies often become a short hand ... to cover all usages of all words from the widest range of sources. ... to state meanings of what 'artifact'/'artefact' means. ... set in stone. ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Re: answer to Lloyd and Dylan. - definition artifact/artefact
    ... Artifact definition found here: ... aren't necessarily congruent with the dictionary definitions of the same ... These technical vocabularies often become a short hand ... Doug's Archaeology Site: http://www.ramtops.co.uk ...
    (sci.archaeology)