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<p>Thank-you for confirming that, Mark.</p>
<p>Personally I think we, in OSM, should stop with this folly of
overloading English words with meanings they do not have in <b>any
</b>dictionary (be it AmE, BrE, CaE, or whatever).</p>
<p>Both the "ditch" and "drain" words <b>can </b>be used to
describe certain features in English. The difference is
essentially an etymological one, with one related to the <b>process
</b>of excavation (dig -> ditch) and the other to the <b>function
</b>of carrying liquids away (dry -> drain).</p>
<p>If we want to precisely map certain characteristics of a feature
we should do it explicitly through a <b>correct data model</b>
that takes into consideration the particular aspect we are trying
to communicate. We want to communicate the information that a
(small) waterway is lined with concrete? Just say that with an
appropriate tag, like e.g. lined=*, or lining=*. We want to
communicate the information that a (small) waterway is used to
carry waste water away? Once again, let's say that with an
appropriate tag, like e.g. usage=* (<i>please ignore if the
specific tags I put in the examples are not of your liking: not
the point here, let's discuss that later...</i>).<br>
</p>
<p>Arbitrarily overloading words with meanings they do not have in
the common language is just a perfect way to Babel, that is a
reduction in information.</p>
<p>Sergio<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 2019-02-02 09:22, Mark Wagner wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:20190202002201.0bef463d@puma.carnildo.com">
<pre class="moz-quote-pre" wrap="">
My copy of the Oxford English Dictionary has about a page of
definitions for "ditch" and "drain", and not a hint that either of them
needs to be lined.
</pre>
</blockquote>
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