The Steampunk Lexicon

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Permalink Reply by Rev. Mik McAllister on September 7, 2011 at 1:36pm

A few notes here:

"Variations" would be alternate spellings of the word.

"Other Uses" would be other meanings for the word. A notable example would be the word "vest", and all the different items that word has been used to denote.

I would strongly suggest some categories. Fashion, Machine, Tools, etc. Sub-categories would be good too ("Jacket", "Trousers", "Fastenings", etc.)

I would also suggest that if a component of a thing has a term, that term should point back to the thing it is a component of. Examples would be "cog" pointing back to "gear" or "cogwheel"; or "lapel" pointing back to "jacket", "coat", "vest", etc.  And vice versa.

When you are ready to do so, I would be glad to watch out for any glaring errors and review articles as they are posted.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Hobby on September 7, 2011 at 5:28pm

Greeting Rev. Mik McAlister,

 

Thanks your your imput. Am now implementing a "Category" and a "see also" section to cater for a "point back thing" (of which I understand completely what you mean.)

A sub_ category would be harder to implement but I'll put on my thinking cap and see what I can work out as it would be good to have.

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Paul Hobby on September 7, 2011 at 5:55pm

Also  I need to compile a list of possible categories for these entries, so far I only have;

1: Fashion
2: Machine
3: Tools
4: Item
5: Weapon
6: Person

 

Need to add: animal, other, mineral, ???

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Permalink Reply by Rev. Mik McAllister on September 7, 2011 at 9:45pm

If you add Animal, I'll have to restrain myself from adding a plethora of cryptozoological terms and references.

Mineral is an excellent idea. While Brass seems to be our life-blood, there are other materials many may not be aware of, such as bronze steel.

I am not sure what Item would denote.

I would also include "Processes", to include the different ways in which we make things. Forging, drop forge, brazing, gilding, felting, crochet, tatting, knitting, basting (which has nothing to do with poultry), are all processes that people confuse with other processes. (If I see one more person who claims to have "just sewed it on" when I can see that it was tacked on, I shall be arrested for assault with a weighty tome)

And do not forget Food! You have no idea how many people have no idea what cress is, or aspic!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Hobby on September 9, 2011 at 7:06pm

Excellent additions, I'll add them to my list.

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Permalink Reply by Colin Christenson on September 9, 2011 at 7:58pm

Perhaps you should add Transport as a category. Like trains, steamers, and airships. Unless that falls under Machine.

 

Place might be another good category. You could put Victorian buildings, bridges, or cities in there. And if you allow imaginary things as well I'm sure there are lots of places from Steampunk books and stories that could go there.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Hobby on September 10, 2011 at 1:13am

Good work, Transport and Structure (instead of place) has been added to my list

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Permalink Reply by Lady Hawke on September 9, 2011 at 2:27am

I think it's important to have a mission statement for the project.  I believe it would help it have focus and thus momentum to progress.  It should also be clear who can edit what information and if accuracy is expected or not, and who can verify, deny, edit, etc. another person's work.  It might also be helpful to define what is not allowed (can someone make up type of weapon and write an entry for it when it's an imaginary thing? Is it appropriate if it's an imaginary animal from a published book?  Anything goes?).

 

Etymology would be a very important entry for any word in a Lexicon.  Perhaps slightly less so in a dictionary.

 

Since it's a wiki, you might consider also have a space for every word to have a "Philologists Corner" where there is a welcome space for commentary/discussion.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Hobby on September 10, 2011 at 1:09am

I really appreciate everyone who is providing such valuable input.

 

Lady Hawke, there is alread room for detailed discussion on each entry (although renaming it to "Philologists Corner" is a great idea. This also partly addresses the issue of actuaricy and legmitaicy of each entry.

A clear missions statement (now that you mention it) is essential and I will start to work one one. All suggestion welcome.

 

As to who, the original idea was that anyone who was a member of the Lexicon (restricted to members of the big 3 sites mentioned in the first post) and to have a discussion page for each entry AND to let people also rate an entry as to how accurate it is.

 

New thought: Only the person who created an entry and the moderators will be allows. Discussion can take place in the Philologists Corner as to whether or not the current definition is the best one.

 

re: Etymology, I knew that there was something major missing! I was thinking origin of the word (same thing mostly)

 

All of your points have been noted and will be included in my next planning phase.

 

Everyone please keep up the god work.

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Permalink Reply by The Hon. Catherine Swinburne on September 9, 2011 at 5:07pm

As a Yank, I am curious to know which words are Victorian-specific and which are still in modern usage in Britain, for example "lucifers" for "matches", which has popped up in several of the books I've read recently. 

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Permalink Reply by Paul Hobby on September 10, 2011 at 1:14am

Good question, probably best to add it then discuss it. :)

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Permalink Reply by Paul Hobby on September 10, 2011 at 1:16am

QUICK NOTE TO ALL:

 

I have decided to add a category of "Fiction" and "Non-fiction" this would allow for a wide range of "made up" words as well.

 

In the end you could potentially print a copy of the lexicon and you could choose fiction, non-fiction or both.

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