"Diaspora": Definitional Differences

Entered by Leong Yew

The Oxford English Dictionary

The 1989 edition (second edition) of the OED traces the etymology of the word, "Diaspora," back to its greek root and to its appearance in the Old Testament (Deut. 28:25). As such it references God's intentions for the people of Israel to be "dispersed" across the world. The OED entry in this case starts with Judaic history, mentioning only two types of dispersals: the "Jews living dispersed among the Gentiles after the Captivity" and the Jewish Christians residing outside of Palestine.

However, in the 1993 edition of the Shorter Oxford definition of diaspora can be found. While still insisting on capitalization of the first letter, "Diaspora" now also refers to "any body of people living outside their traditional homeland."