ubuntu 12.10 cannot update any software problems with dictionary-common and emacs / xemacs

after an upgrade from 12.04 to 12.10 nothing is updating. all package installations and removals are failing with some dictionary-common errors.

installArchives() failed: Selecting previously unselected package xaw3dg:amd64.
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(Reading database ... 198156 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking xaw3dg:amd64 (from .../xaw3dg_1.5+E-18.2_amd64.deb) ...
Selecting previously unselected package emacs24-common-non-dfsg.
Unpacking emacs24-common-non-dfsg (from .../emacs24-common-non-dfsg_24.1+1-1_all.deb) ...
Selecting previously unselected package emacs24-common.
Unpacking emacs24-common (from .../emacs24-common_24.1+1-2ubuntu3_all.deb) ...
Selecting previously unselected package emacs24-bin-common.
Unpacking emacs24-bin-common (from .../emacs24-bin-common_24.1+1-2ubuntu3_amd64.deb) ...
Selecting previously unselected package emacs24-lucid.
Unpacking emacs24-lucid (from .../emacs24-lucid_24.1+1-2ubuntu3_amd64.deb) ...
Processing triggers for install-info ...
install-info: warning: no info dir entry in `/usr/share/info/xemacs21/emodules.info.gz'
Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils ...
Processing triggers for gnome-menus ...
Processing triggers for bamfdaemon ...
Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/bamf.index...
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Setting up dictionaries-common (1.12.10) ...
Install dictionaries-common for xemacs21
install/dictionaries-common: Byte-compiling for emacsen flavour xemacs21

WARNING:
Couldn't find obvious defaults for:
data-directory
mule-lisp-directory
lisp-directory
Perhaps some directories don't exist, or the XEmacs executable,
/usr/bin/xemacs21
is in a strange place?Symbol's function definition is void: batch-byte-compile
xemacs exiting
.
ERROR: install script from dictionaries-common package failed
dpkg: error processing dictionaries-common (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of aspell:
 aspell depends on dictionaries-common (>> 0.40); however:
  Package dictionaries-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing aspell (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of aspell-en:
 aspell-en depends on aspell (>= 0.60.3-2); however:
  Package aspell is not configured yet.
 aspell-en depends on dictionaries-common (>= 0.49.2); however:
  Package dictionaries-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing aspell-en (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfiguredNo apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already

Setting up emacsen-common (2.0.3) ...
Install emacsen-common for xemacs21
emacsen-common: Handling install of emacsen flavor xemacs21

WARNING:
Couldn't find obvious defaults for:
data-directory
mule-lisp-directory
lisp-directory
Perhaps some directories don't exist, or the XEmacs executable,
/usr/bin/xemacs21
is in a strange place?Loading /usr/share/emacs/site-lisp/debian-startup...
Loading 00debian...
Error while loading 00debian: Symbol's function definition is void: loop
Loading 00debian-vars...
Loading 50autoconf...
Error while loading 50autoconf: No /usr/local/ prefixed paths in load-path
Loading 50dictionaries-common...
Error while loading 50dictionaries-common: No /usr/local/ prefixed paths in load-path
Loading 50ess...
Package ess not fully installed. Skipping setup.
Symbol's function definition is void: batch-byte-compile
xemacs exiting
.
ERROR: install script from emacsen-common package failed
dpkg: error processing emacsen-common (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of emacs23-common:
 emacs23-common depends on emacsen-common (>= 1.4.10); however:
  Package emacsen-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing emacs23-common (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of emacs23-bin-common:
 emacs23-bin-common depends on emacs23-common (= 23.4+1-4ubuntu1); however:
  Package emacs23-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing emacs23-bin-common (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of emacs23:
 emacs23 depends on emacs23-bin-common (= 23.4+1-4ubuntu1); however:
  Package emacs23-bin-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing emacs23 (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems preNo apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
vent configuration of hyphen-en-us:
 hyphen-en-us depends on dictionaries-common (>= 0.10) | openoffice.org-updatedicts; however:
  Package dictionaries-common is not configured yet.
  Package openoffice.org-updatedicts is not installed.
  Package dictionaries-common which provides openoffice.org-updatedicts is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing hyphen-en-us (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of xemacs21-mule:
 xemacs21-mule depends on emacsen-common; however:
  Package emacsen-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing xemacs21-mule (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of xemacs21:
 xemacs21 depends on xemacs21-mule (>= 21.4.22-3.2ubuntu2) | xemacs21-mule-canna-wnn (>= 21.4.22-3.2ubuntu2) | xemacs21-nomule (>= 21.4.22-3.2ubuntu2); however:
  Package xemacs21-mule is not configured yet.
  Package xemacs21-mule-canna-wnn is not installed.
  Package xemacs21-nomule is not installed.

dpkg: error processing xemacs21 (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of xemacs21-support:
 xemacs21-support depends on emacsen-common; however:
  Package emacsen-common is not configured yet.
 xemacs21-support depends on xemacs21 (= 21.4.22-3.2ubuntu2); however:
  Package xemacs21 is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing xemacs21-support (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of xemacs21-bin:
 xemacs21-bin depends on xemacs21-support (= 21.4.22-3.2ubuntu2); however:
  Package xemacs21-support is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing xemacs21-bin (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up xaw3dg:amd64 (1.5+E-18.2) ...
Setting up emacs24-common-non-dfsg (24.1+1-1) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of emacs24-common:
 emacs24-common depends on emacsen-common (>= 1.4.10); however:
  Package emacsen-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing emacs24-common (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of emacs24-bin-common:
 emacs24-bin-common depends on emacs24-common (= 24.1+1-2ubuntu3); however:
  Package emacs24-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing emacs24-bin-common (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of emacs24-lucid:
 emacs24-lucid depends on emacs24-bin-common (= 24.1+1-2ubuntu3); however:
  Package emacs24-bin-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing emacs24-lucid (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for libc-bin ...
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
ldconfig deferred processing now taking place
Errors were encountered while processing:
 dictionaries-common
 aspell
 aspell-en
 emacsen-common
 emacs23-common
 emacs23-bin-common
 emacs23
 hyphen-en-us
 xemacs21-mule
 xemacs21
 xemacs21-support
 xemacs21-bin
 emacs24-common
 emacs24-bin-common
 emacs24-lucid
Error in function:
Setting up emacsen-common (2.0.3) ...
Install emacsen-common for xemacs21
emacsen-common: Handling install of emacsen flavor xemacs21

WARNING:
Couldn't find obvious defaults for:
data-directory
mule-lisp-directory
lisp-directory
Perhaps some directories don't exist, or the XEmacs executable,
/usr/bin/xemacs21
is in a strange place?Loading /usr/share/emacs/site-lisp/debian-startup...
Loading 00debian...
Error while loading 00debian: Symbol's function definition is void: loop
Loading 00debian-vars...
Loading 50autoconf...
Error while loading 50autoconf: No /usr/local/ prefixed paths in load-path
Loading 50dictionaries-common...
Error while loading 50dictionaries-common: No /usr/local/ prefixed paths in load-path
Loading 50ess...
Package ess not fully installed. Skipping setup.
Symbol's function definition is void: batch-byte-compile
xemacs exiting
.
ERROR: install script from emacsen-common package failed
dpkg: error processing emacsen-common (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Setting up dictionaries-common (1.12.10) ...
Install dictionaries-common for xemacs21
install/dictionaries-common: Byte-compiling for emacsen flavour xemacs21

WARNING:
Couldn't find obvious defaults for:
data-directory
mule-lisp-directory
lisp-directory
Perhaps some directories don't exist, or the XEmacs executable,
/usr/bin/xemacs21
is in a strange place?Symbol's function definition is void: batch-byte-compile
xemacs exiting
.
ERROR: install script from dictionaries-common package failed
dpkg: error processing dictionaries-common (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of xemacs21-support:
 xemacs21-support depends on emacsen-common; however:
  Package emacsen-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing xemacs21-support (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of emacs24-common:
 emacs24-common depends on emacsen-common (>= 1.4.10); however:
  Package emacsen-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing emacs24-common (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of emacs23-common:
 emacs23-common depends on emacsen-common (>= 1.4.10); however:
  Package emacsen-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing emacs23-common (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of aspell:
 aspell depends on dictionaries-common (>> 0.40); however:
  Package dictionaries-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing aspell (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of xemacs21-mule:
 xemacs21-mule depends on xemacs21-support (= 21.4.22-3.2ubuntu2); however:
  Package xemacs21-support is not configured yet.
 xemacs21-mule depends on emacsen-common; however:
  Package emacsen-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing xemacs21-mule (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of xemacs21:
 xemacs21 depends on xemacs21-mule (>= 21.4.22-3.2ubuntu2) | xemacs21-mule-canna-wnn (>= 21.4.22-3.2ubuntu2) | xemacs21-nomule (>= 21.4.22-3.2ubuntu2); however:
  Package xemacs21-mule is not configured yet.
  Package xemacs21-mule-canna-wnn is not installed.
  Package xemacs21-nomule is not installed.

dpkg: error processing xemacs21 (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of emacs23-bin-common:
 emacs23-bin-common depends on emacs23-common (= 23.4+1-4ubuntu1); however:
  Package emacs23-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing emacs23-bin-common (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of hyphen-en-us:
 hyphen-en-us depends on dictionaries-common (>= 0.10) | openoffice.org-updatedicts; however:
  Package dictionaries-common is not configured yet.
  Package openoffice.org-updatedicts is not installed.
  Package dictionaries-common which provides openoffice.org-updatedicts is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing hyphen-en-us (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of aspell-en:
 aspell-en depends on aspell (>= 0.60.3-2); however:
  Package aspell is not configured yet.
 aspell-en depends on dictionaries-common (>= 0.49.2); however:
  Package dictionaries-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing aspell-en (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of emacs24-bin-common:
 emacs24-bin-common depends on emacs24-common (= 24.1+1-2ubuntu3); however:
  Package emacs24-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing emacs24-bin-common (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of xemacs21-bin:
 xemacs21-bin depends on xemacs21-support (= 21.4.22-3.2ubuntu2); however:
  Package xemacs21-support is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing xemacs21-bin (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of emacs23:
 emacs23 depends on emacs23-bin-common (= 23.4+1-4ubuntu1); however:
  Package emacs23-bin-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing emacs23 (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of emacs24-lucid:
 emacs24-lucid depends on emacs24-bin-common (= 24.1+1-2ubuntu3); however:
  Package emacs24-bin-common is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing emacs24-lucid (--configure):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured