10:41 Apr 6, 2010 

Once there was only the British English, then the Americans started to speak slightly differently and the American English sprang up, then Canadian, Australian, Indian and so on. And these new variation of English began to influence on each other. Now that English is widely spoken also as second language in non-English countries these new variations English will influence on all other Englishes. I may happily say to my non-English discussion partner: "I already readed that book". And he may be happy to hear the message so clearly expressed, and then the ur-Englishers may hit the same and they decide to alter...

15:03 Apr 5, 2010 

It's pretty obvious with MOT and other FI-EN dictionaries that it is the native Finnish speaking lexicographers who have the upper hand in the authorial process. The issue of the primacy of dictionaries is really interesting for people like us, since there isn't much difference between the authors of dictionaries and us--what they write is their studied opinion, but it isn't the Word of God. Frequently it seems like the target language is Finland English rather than English as spoken in the UK or US. It isn't like that is necessarily wrong though--Finland English is a type of English too!

10:32 Apr 5, 2010 

There is nothing unusual about dictionaries being wrong

08:45 Apr 5, 2010 

The best way to make your point in the KudoZ area is to give your own answer.

08:41 Apr 5, 2010 

No I disagree strongly: 'directed at'/ 'targeted at' etc in these sorts of sentences are examples of over-translation and make for unnatural English