Dutch dictionary censored as demanded by Christian schools

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V

Vegitto

Diamond Member
May 3, 2005
5,234
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Translated text:

Dictionary publisher Van Dale will censor their dictionary, publishing the first edition in March. The Dutch dictionary will not contain any swears, cusses and multiple words not supported by Christian schools.

Numerous words offensive to others have also been scrapped.

Editor Theo de Boer working at Van Dale Lexicografie has confirmed this on Wednesday in the Nederlands Dagblad (Dutch Journal). The new dictionary was formed after a principal and an administrator of five of the largest reformed schools in Staphorst complained with the dictionary maker. The two of them have worked together closely whilst making this book.

De Boer estimates that around two hundred words have been removed or edited from the dictionary. The publisher considered lengthening the description of multiple Christian words, but decided against this.

Schools in Staphorst promised to order at least 2500 copies of the new dictionary. De Boer will not reply as to how many of the books will be produced.
Click to expand...

(Original, Dutch text at fok.nl.)

Well, I think you guys know how I think about this.. Words like 'gay', 'i love you', 'euthanasia' and 'abortion' are scrapped from this new dictionary. Cuss words like 'goddamn', etc. etc. have also been removed.
 
Linflas

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
Originally posted by: Ameesh
censorship is ridiculous and anyone who supports it is a terrorist
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If the publisher of a dictionary decides to leave out words that some find offensive that is not censorship. If the Dutch government tells the publisher to leave out the words it is censorship. The publisher is just interested in selling the most dictionaries possible with the least amount of controversy.
 
thecoolnessrune

thecoolnessrune

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2005
9,673
583
126
I'm not sure I understand it. If its Christian schools its almost assuredly private. Its their rules. As long as they abide by standard school guidelines they aren't doing anything wrong :confused:

<Puts on flamesuit>
Besides, just compare the situations with public schools. The schools are asking for censored dictionaries for there student bodies. Doesn't mention anything about what they can and cant carry on themselves personally. Contrast that with public schools. You can't even bring a Bible into school. And thats a personal thing. If anyone does any censoring, public schools have by far been the worse.

Everyone is so quick to call foul on people they want an excuse to hate :cool:
 
S

Sqube

Diamond Member
Dec 23, 2004
3,078
1
0
Don't hate your country, hate the dictionary publisher. It was their decision.

Nowhere in your excerpt does anything say the Dutch government forced them to do it.
 
M

mundane

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2002
5,603
8
81
Originally posted by: Linflas
Originally posted by: Ameesh
censorship is ridiculous and anyone who supports it is a terrorist
Click to expand...

If the publisher of a dictionary decides to leave out words that some find offensive that is not censorship. If the Dutch government tells the publisher to leave out the words it is censorship. The publisher is just interested in selling the most dictionaries possible with the least amount of controversy.
Click to expand...

Yeah - it seems as if the headline implies a government enforced, Christian incited movement to censor _all_ of the dictionaries. But in this case, a specific publisher is refactoring a dictionary for distribution in a Christian school.
 
JEDIYoda

JEDIYoda

Lifer
Jul 13, 2005
33,986
3,321
126
Originally posted by: Vegitto
Translated text:

Dictionary publisher Van Dale will censor their dictionary, publishing the first edition in March. The Dutch dictionary will not contain any swears, cusses and multiple words not supported by Christian schools.

Numerous words offensive to others have also been scrapped.

Editor Theo de Boer working at Van Dale Lexicografie has confirmed this on Wednesday in the Nederlands Dagblad (Dutch Journal). The new dictionary was formed after a principal and an administrator of five of the largest reformed schools in Staphorst complained with the dictionary maker. The two of them have worked together closely whilst making this book.

De Boer estimates that around two hundred words have been removed or edited from the dictionary. The publisher considered lengthening the description of multiple Christian words, but decided against this.

Schools in Staphorst promised to order at least 2500 copies of the new dictionary. De Boer will not reply as to how many of the books will be produced.
Click to expand...

(Original, Dutch text at fok.nl.)

Well, I think you guys know how I think about this.. Words like 'gay', 'i love you', 'euthanasia' and 'abortion' are scrapped from this new dictionary. Cuss words like 'goddamn', etc. etc. have also been removed.
Click to expand...

Good for them!! Thats a great start!!
 
V

Vegitto

Diamond Member
May 3, 2005
5,234
1
0
Originally posted by: mugs
That is idiotic.

But at least it's just one publisher doing it.
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Too bad we only have two. And I'll bet you everything I have they'll follow in this, or they'll go bankrupt.. :(
 
Amused

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,144
18,688
146
How dare a company market something to a religious organization! Those bastards! :|
 
Linflas

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
If I was Dutch I would be more upset with my country for allowing what happened to Pim Fortuyn, Theo van Gogh, the fact that Ayaan Hirsi Ali is forced to live in exile than the fact that a publisher decided to remove swear words from a dictionary.
 
V

Vegitto

Diamond Member
May 3, 2005
5,234
1
0
Originally posted by: Sqube
Don't hate your country, hate the dictionary publisher. It was their decision.

Nowhere in your excerpt does anything say the Dutch government forced them to do it.
Click to expand...

Oh, the government does a lot I don't like.. I'm not gonna list it all. Fact is, as soon as I can, I'm moving.
 
M

Mucho

Guest
Oct 20, 2001
8,231
2
0
Originally posted by: Ameesh
censorship is ridiculous and anyone who supports it is a terrorist
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Censorship is necessary; mainly because we don't live in a rational world. Look at it this way if it weren't for censorship what would prevent someone from engaging in bestiality and charge people to watch.
 
A

aidanjm

Lifer
Aug 9, 2004
12,411
2
0
is this a widely used dictionary, or one made for school students? I remember the dictionaries I in early grades didn't contain words like 'fvck' or 'cvnt'. If this is a dictionary intended for the general public, or older high school students, then the censorship is kind of crazy. But you can understand why the publishers are doing it, they want to keep selling their dictionaries to the schools that are complaining.
 
V

Vegitto

Diamond Member
May 3, 2005
5,234
1
0
Originally posted by: aidanjm
is this a widely used dictionary, or one made for school students? I remember the dictionaries I in early grades didn't contain words like 'fvck' or 'cvnt'. If this is a dictionary intended for the general public, or older high school students, then the censorship is kind of crazy. But you can understand why the publishers are doing it, they want to keep selling their dictionaries to the schools that are complaining.
Click to expand...

The Dikke van Dale is basically the only dictionary used by Dutch people themselves. There's one other publisher, Prisma, but those dictionaries are usually given to people that don't know the language, as this dictionary contains phonetics and such.
 
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