Native Americans dispute Dictionary.com definition of "powwow"

Kylabelle said:

http://www.12news.com/news/nation-n...-dictionarycom-definition-of-powwow/122979700



Dictionary.com agreed to remove the word "magic" but as of yesterday it was still there, according to the article. (Screen cap of the offending definition at source. I removed it from the post here.)

Makes me much less trusting of Dictionary.com as a definition source.

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The heck?

I've never heard powwows associated with magic, and I'm about as clueless and white as you can get. What was the source, here?

(The cynic in me wonders if it's more directly related to the new Potterverse movie than they're letting on - viral marketing.)

I don't see your point. According to the article, "dictionary.com agreed to explore making changes to the definition, and remove the word “magic” after consulting with a professor of Native American Studies as part of their editorial process."

I would assume that they have written to the professor in question, and are politely awaiting her reply. It hasn't been a week yet.

(Or, it could be that the professor wrote back to say that the definition was indeed correct.)

They agreed *after* consulting.

They have consulted. The professor confirmed the error. They agreed to make the change. The change has not yet taken place. The reason why has not been stated.

Kylabelle said:

http://www.12news.com/news/nation-n...-dictionarycom-definition-of-powwow/122979700



Dictionary.com agreed to remove the word "magic" but as of yesterday it was still there, according to the article. (Screen cap of the offending definition at source. I removed it from the post here.)

Makes me much less trusting of Dictionary.com as a definition source.

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I am not a fan of Dictionary.com. This is just one example of why, but the issue that annoys me the most about them is that they pick definitions not based on most commonly used but on what they like. This isn't how lexicographers work.

My personal favorite is The American Heritage Dictionary (https://ahdictionary.com)

And the definition of powwow is a pretty good example of why.

Brightdreamer said:

The heck?

I've never heard powwows associated with magic, and I'm about as clueless and white as you can get. What was the source, here?

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Call me 'Clueless in Canada' but when I think of powwows, I think of dancing and frybread, not 'magic'. Religious ceremonies, possibly, but not 'magic'.

Twig2 said:

According to the article, "dictionary.com agreed to explore making changes to the definition, and remove the word “magic” after consulting with a professor of Native American Studies as part of their editorial process."

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What reputable dictionary puts 'consulting with a professor' and 'editorial process' as sort of an afterthought?
"Sounds cool, stick it up on the site, and see if anyone complains. If they do, we can check with a professor or something." I do not believe this is the way Mr. Webster intended the process to work. I wonder how often this has been done to other words, that either no-one looks up, or no-one has noticed the 'wrongness' of the definition.
At this rate, Dictionary.com is going to turn into Urban Dictionary.

frimble3 said:

At this rate, Dictionary.com is going to turn into Urban Dictionary.

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For my money, it already has. Not often, but occasionally, I'll see a word here that I think is being misused and the only places I see it used in that context are Dictionary.com and the Urban Dictionary. Total turn-off.

My first choice, like Lisa's, is The American Heritage Dictionary. Sometimes, not often, I'll back it up with a quick check with Merriam-Webster or The MacMillan Dictionary. Generally, though, it's my definitive go-to.

I wish people would quit casually using it to mean "a meeting or discussion" too.

Kylabelle said:

Brightdreamer, here's the link to Indian Country Today Media Network. No, I don't think this is viral marketing for Rowland. (ETA: The source I linked in the OP is an Arizona news outlet who clearly picked up on the story from the ICT Media Network.)

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwo...om-agrees-drop-magic-powwow-definition-163973

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Oh. I was wondering if there was a source out there somewhere that linked powwows and magic (maybe some old 19th-century write-up that considered all NA customs black magic), since I'd never heard of such a connection and was wondering how Dictionary.com came up with such a definition. I always associated the term (roughly) with an intertribal gathering, but never with the practice of magic.

I always thought a pow wow was a meeting of leaders. Kind of like a council meeting. Deciding on laws and rules and what not.

Could be talking out my arse, obviously.

Twig2 said:

I don't see your point. According to the article, "dictionary.com agreed to explore making changes to the definition, and remove the word “magic” after consulting with a professor of Native American Studies as part of their editorial process."

I would assume that they have written to the professor in question, and are politely awaiting her reply. It hasn't been a week yet.

(Or, it could be that the professor wrote back to say that the definition was indeed correct.)

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You do all that before even writing the lemma, never mind the actual definition.

It's idiotic to publish the definition and then do the research; it's certainly not standard practice for lexicographers.

kuwisdelu said:

I wish people would quit casually using it to mean "a meeting or discussion" too.

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I prefer "palaver."

Linguistic borrowing happens, though, and loan words often wind up being used out of context from their original meaning.

mirandashell said:

I always thought a pow wow was a meeting of leaders. Kind of like a council meeting. Deciding on laws and rules and what not.

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I'm not familiar how the term is used traditionally since it's not from my tribe, but modern powwows are generally Pan-Indian social gatherings with food, social dances, arts & crafts, etc.

the one in austin every november has been a family tradition for us for nearly as long as my kids have been alive.

Among native peoples in southeastern Alaska it's a "potlatch", a social gathering for food and traditional celebration.

caw

The only thing I know about American Indians on the mainland is what I learn from the History Channel or what I learned in school. Seriously, though, when I saw that "magic" thing, I laughed. I always thought "powwow" meant "a council meeting." Kinda like the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Federal Council of Switzerland.

America's Proust said:

The only thing I know about American Indians on the mainland is what I learn from the History Channel or what I learned in school.

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Ohh, was it Ancient Aliens?

A distant relative (in-law) of mine appeared on it talking about how our kachinas are aliens...

Yeah, we don't like him very much...

Uhh...no. No, this was back when the History Channel wasn't a bad joke filled with annoying and repetitious reality shows and conspiracy theories.

kuwisdelu said:

Ohh, was it Ancient Aliens?

A distant relative (in-law) of mine appeared on it talking about how our kachinas are aliens...

Yeah, we don't like him very much...

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Well, to be fair, pretty much everything on that show boils down to "aliens had to have done it 'cause I can't explain it and they weren't us." Everyone's ancestors had to have alien help to cross the street, apparently...

America's Proust said:

Uhh...no. No, this was back when the History Channel wasn't a bad joke filled with annoying and repetitious reality shows and conspiracy theories.

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My family do watch it for Pawn Stars and American Pickers. We like learning facts about antiques and other historical items. (My parents sell antiques and old stuff as a hobby/part time job.)

Magic? Who thinks it has anything to do with magic? I know very little, but I at least know that.

Kylabelle said:

That was the contested definition noted in the OP.

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Oh, I know. I was only reacting - sort of head-scratching out cyberloud on that one.