Yes, your point is still valid, even if the first example is perhaps not suitable. I have to admit I still didn't get the meaning of what you said, but I take your words for that as I am myself not an American.
(And that is also probably due to my natural silliness)
As for your other example, I have "preventative" in my own dictionary, which is supposedly a synonym of preventive as you pointed out. A quite weird modification there indeed.
Finally, as for the statements of this teach, sure English (and other Languages) are ever changing, a language no longer evolving is dead. But I don't believe that means we should forego spelling and grammar altogether, as these tools of the language are used to allow different individuals to communicate. Or perhaps he basically meant a few mistakes are not a big issue, as long as they don't lead to misinterpretations?
Quote:
Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
Dictionaries are not the arbitrators of language, but rather the reflection of it. This is not France, afterall.
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Hmm, are you alluding to our old academicians defending the "proper" and past French? Are we really the only country with such people? 
As for the dictionaries, ours are also reflecting the changes in the language, although these changes are only taken into accounts after a few years. I would also say French is evolving slower than English, but that's another subject.
[ September 15, 2003, 19:05: Message edited by: Alneyan ]