Guest guest Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 McDonald's launches U.K. campaign to get dictionaries to redefine 'McJobs' Published: Thursday, March 22, 2007 | 11:05 AM ET Canadian Press: ASHLEY M. HEHER CHICAGO (AP) - McDonald's Corp. is reviving its campaign to ditch the dictionary definition of " McJob, " this time setting its sites on the vocabulary of Britons. The world's largest fast food company said Tuesday it plans to launch a campaign in the U.K. this spring to get the country's dictionary houses to change current references to the word " McJob. " The Oxford English Dictionary, considered by many wordsmiths as the gold standard for the English language, is one of those that will be targeted. It defines the noun as " an unstimulating, low-paid job with few prospects, esp. one created by the expansion of the service sector. " The word first cropped up two decades ago in the Washington Post, according to the dictionary. But executives at Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald's say the definition is demeaning to its workers and say theyll ask dictionary editors to amend the definition. " Dictionaries are supposed to be paragons of accuracy. And in this case, they got it completely wrong, " said Walt Riker, a McDonald's spokesman. " It's a complete disservice and incredibly demeaning to a terrific work force and a company that's been a jobs and opportunity machine for 50 years. " But the restaurant chain that helped coin the phrase " super size " may have its work cut out. In 2003, editors at the Merriam-Webster dictionary declined to remove or change their definition of " McJob " after McDonald's balked at its inclusion in the book's 11th edition. Instead, the Springfield, Mass. publisher said the word was accurate and appropriate. I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of war, corporations have been enthroned, and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the republic is destroyed. I feel, at this moment, more anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war. God grant that my suspicions may prove groundless. " Lincoln in a letter to Col. William F. Elkins on November 21, 1864 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2007 Report Share Posted March 24, 2007 LOL - they might change it in the dictionary but it will still be in common use. Jo - " fraggle " <EBbrewpunx " vegan chat " Friday, March 23, 2007 3:22 PM thats cuz they Mcsuck > McDonald's launches U.K. campaign to get dictionaries to redefine > 'McJobs' > Published: Thursday, March 22, 2007 | 11:05 AM ET > Canadian Press: ASHLEY M. HEHER > CHICAGO (AP) - McDonald's Corp. is reviving its campaign to ditch the > dictionary definition of " McJob, " this time setting its sites on the > vocabulary of Britons. The world's largest fast food company said > Tuesday it plans to launch a campaign in the U.K. this spring to get > the country's dictionary houses to change current references to the > word " McJob. " > > The Oxford English Dictionary, considered by many wordsmiths as the > gold standard for the English language, is one of those that will be > targeted. It defines the noun as " an unstimulating, low-paid job with > few prospects, esp. one created by the expansion of the service > sector. " > > The word first cropped up two decades ago in the Washington Post, > according to the dictionary. But executives at Oak Brook, Ill.-based > McDonald's say the definition is demeaning to its workers and say > theyll ask dictionary editors to amend the definition. > > " Dictionaries are supposed to be paragons of accuracy. And in this > case, they got it completely wrong, " said Walt Riker, a McDonald's > spokesman. " It's a complete disservice and incredibly demeaning to a > terrific work force and a company that's been a jobs and opportunity > machine for 50 years. " > > But the restaurant chain that helped coin the phrase " super size " may > have its work cut out. > > In 2003, editors at the Merriam-Webster dictionary declined to remove > or change their definition of " McJob " after McDonald's balked at its > inclusion in the book's 11th edition. Instead, the Springfield, Mass. > publisher said the word was accurate and appropriate. > > > I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of war, corporations have been enthroned, and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the republic is destroyed. I feel, at this moment, more anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war. God grant that my suspicions may prove groundless. " Lincoln in a letter to Col. William F. Elkins on November 21, 1864 > > > To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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