New OED Entry For ‘Racist’ Includes ‘Criticizing Palestinian Violence’

Cowardiss said a similar situation exists with reference to an apparent shift in the meaning of the word ‘progressive.’

Oxford, UK, May 13 – The next edition of the Oxford English Dictionary will feature a new definition of the term ‘racist’ that reflects the word’s usage in characterizing any effort to portray violence by Palestinians in a negative light, the dictionary’s publisher announced today.

Nigel Portwood, Chief Executive of Oxford University Press, which produces the OED, told reporters today (Wednesday) that in keeping with the dictionary’s mission of describing, rather than prescribing, the usage and definitions of English words, OUP would have to take into account the rhetorical currency of ‘racist’ and ‘racism’ as referring to any challenge to the legitimacy of Palestinian behavior under all circumstances.

Advocates for the defense of Israel and of Jewish rights in the Jewish ancestral homeland often find their efforts dismissed as racist, a usage of the term that lexicographers say represents a shift in the word’s sense since it entered the language in the 1930’s via French. Originally the word racism was applied specifically to Nazi theories, and was itself derived from the longer, early-twentieth-century term ‘racialism,’ the latter of which fell out of favor as the more concise ‘racism’ and ‘racist’ gained popularity. In recent years, however, a significant shift has occurred in the way ‘racist’ is employed.

“We used to use the term in a more restrictive fashion than it currently is spoken,” said Assistant Editor Morel Cowardiss. “And the updated entry in the OED must now include such a prevalent set of occurrences.” Cowardiss declined to say when the next complete edition would be released, but said online resources would soon be edited to add the new information. Only two editions have ever been published: the original, whose publication began in 1884 and ended in 1928; and the second edition, produced in 1989. Portwood has said he expects an eventual third edition to be released only in digital format.

As with all OED entries, said Cowardiss, the new ‘racist’ definition would be supported with documented examples of usage in that sense. “The information currently available shows that as used, the term refers not only to mere criticism of Palestinian violence, but to expression of the very notion that anyone should be protected from such violence,” he added.

Cowardiss said OED researchers and volunteers had found scattered usage of ‘racist’ in reference to the notion that Jewish rights, either individually or nationally, can in any way serve to limit maximalist Palestinian demands, but that further research was needed before determining whether that usage has enough currency to be considered.

“For example, we are monitoring the rhetoric surrounding the issue of Jewish access to holy sites such as the Temple Mount,” he explained. “But while we do occasionally encounter the contention that Jews visiting their holiest site is a racist act, it needs to be a more widespread phenomenon before the OED can formally include that new sense of the word.”

Cowardiss said a similar situation exists with reference to an apparent shift in the meaning of the word ‘progressive.’