The Dictionary of Difficult Words

The Dictionary of Difficult Words
Author: Jane Solomon
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Total Pages: 115
Release: 2019-05-02
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 1786038102

What is a moonbow? What does it mean when someone absquatulates? Over 400 words to amaze, confuse and inspiring budding wordsmiths (and adults!).

The Cambridge Companion to English Dictionaries

The Cambridge Companion to English Dictionaries
Author: Sarah Ogilvie
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 410
Release: 2020-09-24
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 1108568459

How did a single genre of text have the power to standardise the English language across time and region, rival the Bible in notions of authority, and challenge our understanding of objectivity, prescription, and description? Since the first monolingual dictionary appeared in 1604, the genre has sparked evolution, innovation, devotion, plagiarism, and controversy. This comprehensive volume presents an overview of essential issues pertaining to dictionary style and content and a fresh narrative of the development of English dictionaries throughout the centuries. Essays on the regional and global nature of English lexicography (dictionary making) explore its power in standardising varieties of English and defining nations seeking independence from the British Empire: from Canada to the Caribbean. Leading scholars and lexicographers historically contextualise an array of dictionaries and pose urgent theoretical and methodological questions relating to their role as tools of standardisation, prestige, power, education, literacy, and national identity.

The Meaning of Everything

The Meaning of Everything
Author: Simon Winchester
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 294
Release: 2004
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 9780192805768

"We visit the ugly corrugated iron structure that Murray grandly dubbed the Scriptorium -- the Scrippy or the Shed, as locals called it -- and meet some of the legion of volunteers, from Fitzedward Hall, a bitter hermit obsessively devoted to the OED, to W.C. Minor, whose story is one of dangerous madness, ineluctable sadness, and ultimate redemption. The Meaning of Everything is a scintillating account of the creation of the greatest monument ever erected to a living language. Simon Winchester's supple, vigorous prose illuminates this dauntingly ambitious project -- a seventy-year odyssey to create the grandfather of all word-books, the world's unrivaled uber-dictionary. Book jacket."--Jacket.

The Evolution of English Lexicography

The Evolution of English Lexicography
Author: James a H Murray
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 36
Release: 2024-02
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 9361428659

"The Evolution of English Lexicography" by way of James A. H. Murray is a complete take a look at that strains the development and history of English dictionaries and lexicography. Murray's paintings offer a meticulous exam of the evolution of lexicography from its early beginnings to the sophisticated dictionaries of the nineteenth century. In this seminal paintings, Murray analyzes the contributions of top notch lexicographers, the evolution of dictionary-making techniques, and the cultural and linguistic influences which have shaped the English lexicon. Murray's understanding as a lexicographer and philologist shines thru as he delves into the intricacies of compiling dictionaries and defining the nuances of the English language. Through certain research and scholarly insights, Murray offers a profound exploration of the demanding situations and advancements in lexicography over centuries. He highlights the significance of dictionaries in retaining language, documenting ancient utilization, and serving as worthwhile tools for students, writers, and language fans. "The Evolution of English Lexicography" stands as a seminal painting inside the area, showcasing Murray's know-how and passion for language observe. Murray's insightful evaluation and meticulous studies make this book a precious aid for all and sundry inquisitive about the history of English dictionaries and the evolution of lexicography as a scholarly subject.