Wikipedia:You_are_probably_not_a_lexicologist_or_a_lexicographer
Wikipedia:You are probably not a lexicologist or a lexicographer
When edit wars occur over the lead paragraph of a controversial topic, people may turn to more NPOV sources, like the dictionary. The dictionary is one source among many that is generally considered more authoritative than personal opinion.
This is an essay. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints. |
This page in a nutshell: The dictionary is probably a better source than you are. |
Lexicology (from lexiko-, in Late Greek lexikon) is that part of linguistics, a science which is dealing with the study of words, the relations between words (i.e. semantical relations), and the whole lexicon.
Lexicography is divided into two related disciplines: practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries. Theoretical lexicography is a branch of linguistics concerned with the scholarly discipline of analyzing and describing the semantic relationships within the lexicon (vocabulary) of a language and developing theories of dictionary components and structures linking the data in dictionaries. This is sometimes referred to as metalexicography.
Sometimes, for complex topics like homophobia, marriage, or truth, the dictionary seems inadequate. Wikipedians can and do argue over whether the definition is accurate, or which sense of a word is prevalent in mainstream usage. You may not like the dictionary definition, but if it is a reputable dictionary, it generally carries more weight on Wikipedia than your personal opinion. On average, you can't make it disappear from the article simply by claiming that "it is a bad definition" based on your (explicitly or implicitly asserted) status as an expert on the writing of dictionaries. This is because you are probably not a lexicologist or a lexicographer.
Let’s face it, you are probably not trained in lexicology or lexicography. You may have opinions about semantics (how words are defined or used within a lexicon), or how you would have written the dictionary, but your opinion does not countervail the efforts of trained lexicographers.