Sure Webster’s Dictionary is a convenient tool to get an widely accepted formal definition, but its definitions aren’t the final say-so when it comes to defining words. Language is a rather complex subject and one concrete definition per word just won’t cut it in a world where everyone has different opinions about what a certain word means to them. Chapter 8 of Everything’s An Argument pointed out just that when it explained that making a claim of definition is a valid way to formulate an argument.
Arguments of definition can arise in just about any situation. In Chapter 10 of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Kingsolver questions the definition of the word local when used in relation to the “local” food she was eating at a diner. In her situation, the owner of the diner she was eating at clarified that local strictly meant “an hour’s drive.” In other cases, local may mean straight from the neighborhood, or even within the boundaries of an entire state. I feel that it’s safe to say that finding the “right” definition of a word depends primarily on the situation.
In Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma, an argument of definition was also brought up when dteremining the meaning of the word organic. In this case, Pollan concluded that the word organic was rendered meaningless. Organic, like so many other words, can take on a wide variety of meanings. Pollan was more intent on defining organic as a way of producing vegetation or live stock in a manner that was free from pesticides, commodity corn, antibiotics, environmental damage, or rather anything unnatural. Large scale industrial organic producers would be more likely to define organic as abiding by the minimal requirements and guidelines set by the USDA. As you can see, the word organic can be stretched to mean just about anything. Webster’s Dictionary defines organic as “Of or relating to, or derived from living organisms.” (That seems to clear everything right up.) I have nothing against Webster’s or anything, but I feel that it should be used primarily to get an idea of a word meaning rather than a solid definition or you’ll find yourself on one end of an argument of definition.
