Welcome to Lexwiki
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Lexwiki is a do-it-yourself dictionary.
The dictionary will grow as more and more people submit more words, or more definitions for words that already exist in the repository of the dictionary. A language, or a way of speaking about the world, grows when people start twisting the shapes of words to fit the spaces of new meanings, or to invent new words that suggest and envision hitherto unknown realities. Sometimes, an old concept floats about, unanchored. A new word can then be built, like a new house to shelter an old fugitive. Sometimes a new word can invite an old meaning to make itself at home. Making a new dictionary, however modestly, is an exercise in making words more spacious, in transforming them into capacious, generous spaces for meanings to sport in.
At the moment, the Lexwiki contains entries (A-Z) from, 'A Lexicon of the Digital Commons' by Raqs Media Collective. These entries occupy a space in the interstices of circuit boards and the backstreets of cities. You can enter this space, add new entries for each alphabet, or modify existing entries. When you modify an existing entry, it exists alongside the older entry, as a 'rescension'. To see what a 'rescension' is - see the entry for the letter R.
Enjoy Lexwiki, and we hope you will enjoy tending your sojourn in this commons, in this lexical garden. Enter; do not hesitate to sow a fresh crop of words, and harvest new meanings.
How to work in Lexwiki
You can do two things in Lexwiki: enter new definitions for words that already exist within the lexicon, or, enter completely new words for any alphabet (including words invented by you). By new words we mean words that are not already in this lexicon.
Let us see what happens when you try to work with words beginning with the letter 'A'. When you click on the letter 'A' (vertical column to the left of screen) you see the entry 'Access' on the main right hand body of the screen. Below the definition for 'Access' you see two buttons, saying, 'Make New' or 'Modify'.
1. Making New Words
If you click on 'Make New' you get a screen that asks you to 'Add New Entry' and to fill in a form with spaces for 'Submitted By': your name or screen identity, and 'Title': where you fill in the word you would like to define, e.g., 'Arbitrary' or 'Arboreal'). You can also make up new words here, with inventive and original definitions. After you fill in the word you would like to define in the space labeled 'Title', you must type a brief definition in the box below the space for 'Title'. When you have finished defining the word, click on the 'Save' button.
You can now see your new word - on the horizontal line next to the existing word. (it will be available when you click Ax). Clicking on that will bring up the definition that you have entered. Scrolling along the right horizontal bar will reveal the new words that have been added to the lexicon.
2. Modifying (adding to) the meaning of Existing Words
When you click on 'Modify', you get a screen with a box that contains an existing definition of a word. You have to fill in the space that asks 'submitted by' (fill in your name or screen name) and then you can modify or change in any way you like the definition that you see in the box. Take this power seriously, and make use of it responsibly and imaginatively. The more lively and interesting definitions there are in the system the richer the lexicon will be. After you have modified the definition as you like, do not forget to save your changes by clicking on 'Save', below the box.
You can now see the new definition of the word that you have chosen to modify, vertically below the existing definition. As more modifications get added to the system, you will have to scroll down to access them. Scrolling down will also reveal the history of how modifications stack on to each other and to a given term in the lexicon. You can also modify any of the words in this growing stack, at any point of time.
Write to us
Do let us know what you think of Lexwiki, with your comments, criticisms and suggestions, by writing to Raqs Media Collective at <raqs at sarai.net>
We hope to make Lexwiki a really fun repository of words and welcome ways to think about them with your active participation.