The Challenge: Let's get our definition in the dictionary!

I am an Occupational Therapist and a Registered Functional Therapist. I believe that Functional Therapy will be the best name going forward in terms of helping people to understand what we might be able to do.

I claimed in my last post that our definition was not in the dictionary. Here is a snapshot of Definitions of Occupational and Occupation.

This is the Date: June 2nd, 2009.

Here is the challenge:
Can we get a good definition of Occupation and Occupational into the Dictionary?

Steps:

1. Let's get a definition we are happy with. Send your ideas to OccupationDefinition@gmail.com. (Maybe even for glorious prizes... yet to be determined.)
2. Let's figure out a way to get it in the dictionary. Again, ideas to OccupationDefinition@gmail.com. Maybe you have a friend at Webster's, we need your help.
3. Let's get it into the Dictionary! (Let's do it by December 31st, 2009!)

Here is what we start with for Occupational:

oc⋅cu⋅pa⋅tion⋅al   /ˌɒkyəˈpeɪʃənl/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ok-yuh-pey-shuh-nl] Show IPA Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to an occupation, trade, or calling: occupational guidance.
2. of or pertaining to occupation: occupational troops.
Origin: 1840–50; occupation + -al 1 Related forms:
oc⋅cu⋅pa⋅tion⋅al⋅ly, adverb

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth EditionCopyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

oc·cu·pa·tion·al (ŏk'yə-pā'shə-nəl) adj. Of, relating to, or caused by engagement in a particular occupation: occupational hazards.oc'cu·pa'tion·al·ly adv.




WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
occupational
adjective
of or relating to the activity or business for which you are trained; "occupational hazard"

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.

Main Entry: oc·cu·pa·tion·alPronunciation: "äk-y&-'pA-shn&l, -sh&n-&lFunction: adjective: relating to or being an occupational disease —oc·cu·pa·tion·al·ly /-E/ adverb

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.

And todays definition of "Occupation":


occupation

Dictionary: oc·cu·pa·tion (ŏk'yə-pā'shən)
n.
An activity that serves as one's regular source of livelihood; a vocation.
An activity engaged in especially as a means of passing time; an avocation.
The act or process of holding or possessing a place.
The state of being held or possessed.
Invasion, conquest, and control of a nation or territory by foreign armed forces.
The military government exercising control over an occupied nation or territory.
[Middle English occupacioun, from Old French occupacion, from Latin occupātiō, occupātiōn-, from occupātus, past participle of occupāre, to occupy. See occupy.]

Business Dictionary: Occupation
Trade, job, business, or vocation of an individual. An occupation is the principal means by which one earns a livelihood.
Thesaurus: Occupation
noun
Activity pursued as a livelihood: art, business, calling, career, craft, employment, job, line, métier, profession, pursuit, trade, vocation, work. Slang racket. Archaic employ. See action/inaction.
The holding of something, such as a position: incumbency, occupancy, tenure. See place.

Antonyms: occupation
n
Definition: profession, businessAntonyms: entertainment, fun, hobby, pastimen
Definition: seizure, takeoverAntonyms: giving up, surrender, yielding

US Military Dictionary: Occupation
n. the action, state, or period of occupying or being occupied by military force: the Roman occupation of Britain crimes committed during the Nazi occupation.
See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Occupation (of Japan)
(1945 – 52) Military occupation of Japan by the Allied Powers after its defeat in World War II. Theoretically an international occupation, in fact it was carried out almost entirely by the U.S. under Gen. Douglas MacArthur. During the Occupation period, Japanese soldiers and civilians from abroad were repatriated to Japan, arms industries were dismantled, and political prisoners were released. Wartime leaders stood trial for war crimes, and seven were executed. A new constitution, vesting power in the people, replaced the Meiji Constitution; in it Japan renounced its right to wage war, the emperor was reduced to ceremonial status, and women were given the right to vote. The Occupation administration also carried out land reform, reducing the number of farmers who were tenants from 46% to 10%, and began the breakup of the zaibatsu (business conglomerates). Labour unions were initially encouraged, but as fears of leftist organizations grew with the advent of the Cold War, stronger governmental control of labour was supported. The education system, seen as elitist, was revised to resemble the U.S. system. Though the U.S. wanted to end the Occupation in 1947, the Soviet Union vetoed a peace treaty with Japan; a treaty was signed in 1951, and the Occupation ended the following year.
For more information on Occupation (of Japan), visit Britannica.com.

Word Tutor: occupation
IN BRIEF: A person's profession. The first step toward success in any occupation is to become interested in it. — Sir William Osler (1849-1919), Canadian physician, M.D., teacher, medical historian.

Quotes About: Occupation
Quotes: "Occupation is the scythe of time." - Napoleon Bonaparte"Monotony is the law of nature. Look at the monotonous manner in which the sun rises. The monotony of necessary occupation is exhilarating and life giving." - Mahatma Gandhi"My mother has always been unhappy with what I do. She would rather I do something nicer, like be a bricklayer." - Mick Jagger"It is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquillity and occupation which give happiness." - Thomas JeffersonQuotes about Occupation supplied by Quotations Book.-->

Wikipedia: Occupation

Look up occupation in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Occupation may refer to:
In business:
Employment, a person's job or work in service of an employer
Profession, an occupation requiring specialized knowledge
Vocation, an occupation pursued more for altruistic benefit rather than for income
Career, a person's occupational history
Day job, an occupation solely for income, while pursuing another preferred career track
List of occupations
Standard Occupational Classification System, developed and used by the U.S. government
Occupational prestige, the relative esteem in which a particular job is held
Occupational therapy, assisting people who have difficulty performing occupational functions
Occupational science, the study of humans as occupational beings
Occupational disease, chronic ailment resulting from work
Occupational crime, opportunistically committed in the course of legal occupation
In a military context:
Military occupation, control of a territory by a military force
Law of occupation, portions of the law of war which relate to military occupation
List of military occupations, notable historical instances of military occupation
In film and television:
Occupation 101, a 2006 documentary film about the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Occupation: Dreamland, a 2006 documentary film about the Iraq War
Occupation (TV serial), a 2009 television serial about the Iraq War
Occupation Double, a Canadian reality television show
"Occupation" (Battlestar Galactica), an episode in the third season
In music:
Occupation: Foole, a comedy album by George Carlin
"The Beautiful Occupation", a song by the band, Travis
Other meanings:
Occupation (protest), the temporary forceful occupation of a building, space or symbolic site
Occupancy, use of a building for shelter or support of persons, animals, or property

Translations: Occupation Top
Home > Library > Literature & Language > Translations
Dansk (Danish)n. - beskæftigelse, erhverv, besiddelse, besættelse, indtagelseadj. - beskæftigelses-
Nederlands (Dutch)bezigheid, beroep, bezetting, occupatie, inbezitneming, bewoning, activiteit, bezettings-
Français (French) n. - occupation, installation, (Mil, Pol) occupation (de), métier, profession, activité de loisiradj. - d'occupation
Deutsch (German) n. - Beschäftigung, Beruf, Tätigkeit, Besetzung, Besitz, Besatzungadj. - Beschäftigungs...
Ελληνική (Greek) n. - κατάληψη, κτήση, κατοχή, απασχόληση, ασχολία, επάγγελμα, επιτήδευμα, εργασία, κατοίκηση, ενοίκηση
Italiano (Italian) occupazione, presa di possesso, mestiere, professione, presa
Português (Portuguese) n. - ocupação (f), profissão (f)
Русский (Russian) занятие, оккупация
Español (Spanish) n. - ocupación, quehacer, actividad, entretenimiento, profesión, oficio, vocación, habitación, residenciaadj. - relacionado con o perteneciente a la ocupación o actividad
Svenska (Swedish) n. - sysselsättning, yrke, ockupation, besittning, inflyttning
中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified)) 职业, 占有期间, 占有, 职业的
中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional)) n. - 職業, 佔有期間, 佔有adj. - 職業的
한국어 (Korean) n. - 직업, 점유adj. - 점유하는, 직업적인
日本語 (Japanese) n. - 職業, 何かすること, 時間の使い方, 占有, 居住, 占領
العربيه (Arabic) ‏(الاسم) احتلال, مهنه‏
עברית (Hebrew) n. - ‮כיבוש, השתלטות, ישיבה, דיירות, תפיסה, חזקה, עיסוק, החזקה, מקצוע, עבודה, תעסוקה‬adj. - ‮לשימוש הבלעדי של המחזיקים בקרקע שמדובר בה‬

American Sign Languagecommtechlab.msu.edu

So, that is our starting point. I don't know if you agree that it's not defined in these dictionary samples. For me the definition of OT as "assisting people who have difficulty performing occupational functions" doesn't cut it because we already know that will lead to the "vocational" conversion. Mind you, I'm glad it says "functions". Go ahead and check now because the American League of Functional Therapists is seeking to have a working definition within 7 months... by the end of 2009.

So sharpen up your pencils or grab a definition from your college days. You just may be the one who's words grace the pages of history.

We believe in this concept of Occupation, people want to understand. We can help them.

Thank you so much for participating. I'll keep you updated here as to how we are coming along on the project.

Yours,

Ed Kaine, OTR/L, RFT
President of the American League of Functional Therapists


Functional Therapy... the Next Generation of Occupational Therapy!

email: RegisteredFunctionalTherapist@gmail.com
Check out: http://www.functionaltherapist.org/