Abstract

According to the blurb, The Oxford History of English Lexicography (volumes I–II) presents 'the fullest account yet published of the lexicography of English from its origins in medieval glosses, through its rapid development in the eighteenth century, to a fully-established high-tech industry that is as reliant as ever on learning and scholarship'. The term 'English lexicography' is interpreted broad-ly to embrace dictionaries not only of British English but also its national varie-ties such as Scots, American English, the varieties of English spoken in Aus-tralia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the English-based Cre-oles of the Caribbean (cf. vol. I, p. 1). In addition, throughout the topical pres-entation numerous references are made to developments in Europe and else-where which have influenced the course of English lexicography.

Highlights

  • Both volumes contain well-constructed and informative introductions by the editor, A.P

  • Landau gives an extensive outline of major American dictionaries; Lynda Mugglestone contributes a chapter on the Oxford English Dictionary (1879–1928), OED; Charlotte Brewer writes about the OED Supplements; Richard W

  • In volume II, part I, Werner Hüllen gives an outline of dictionaries of synonyms and thesauri; Michael Rand Hoare contributes an extensive chapter on scientific and technical dictionaries; Carole Hough writes about dictionaries of place-names; Patrick Hanks writes about dictionaries of personal names; Joan C

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Summary

Introduction

Both volumes contain well-constructed and informative introductions by the editor, A.P. In part II, N.E. Osselton explores the early development of the English monolingual dictionary (seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries); Allen Reddick writes about the work of Samuel Johnson and Charles Richardson; Sidney I.

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