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From: sigel%umass-cs.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: re: 'maven', and proper word usage
Message-ID: <13286@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Sep-84 01:01:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.13286
Posted: Fri Sep 14 01:01:00 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 14-Sep-84 04:53:10 EDT
Lines: 39

From:      Andrew D. Sigel <sigel%umass-cs.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa>

< 'Maven' is today used almost exclusively to describe females dealing
< with the occult, both in fiction and in real life.

Having heard 'maven' only used to mean 'expert' when it has been
used in my presence (including recent times), I would like more
convincing evidence than Dick Binder's say-so before I modify my
vocabulary.  (I have yet to encounter the word while reading
fantasy.)

< Given that we are subscribers to a science fiction (and fantasy)
< lovers' network, I think we should at least make a stab at using
< words in the way ordinarily accepted in the field.  But then I've
< always been strongly opinionated and prejudiced against people who I
< feel won't be bothered to use language properly.

I've always felt able to use the English language with reasonable
felicity.  It is true that I don't know the meaning of every word in
existence; it is also true that I occasionally misuse words I do
know.  I do not, however, find it reasonable to be accused of misuse
for using a word with a valid current definition that is known by the
general populace, while unaware of a second wholly different meaning
in a specialized field.  (I'm truly curious -- it would seem that few
SF-Lovers have heard of the 'female wizard' definition before Dick
Binder's message, while several know (and use?) the 'expert'
definition.  How many out there *were* cognizant of the 'female
wizard' meaning?)

I agree that, being fans of science fiction and fantasy, we should
take care to use words with divergent meanings in sf/f and the
mundane world with their special sf/f meanings, unless the mundane
definition is patently clear through context.  However, as one who
has read few 'occult' novels, and does not consider them to be part
of the sf/f mainstream (hardly an unusual view of fiction genres), I
would argue that 'maven' does not deserve to be considered in that
light for this network.  

                                    Andrew Sigel