Samuel Johnson

Preface to a Dictionary of the English Language

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Produktbeschreibung

Samuel Johnson's "Preface to a Dictionary of the English Language" remains a cornerstone of lexicography and a vital resource for anyone fascinated by the history of the English language. As a foundational text in the study of dictionaries and grammar, this work offers invaluable insights into the principles of language, writing, and the meticulous craft of dictionary creation. Johnson's reflections on the challenges and complexities inherent in defining and codifying a living language are as relevant today as they were centuries ago. Explore the origins of modern English lexicology through Johnson's thoughtful analysis of word origins, usage, and the ever-evolving nature of communication. This carefully prepared print edition allows readers to delve into the mind of a literary giant and understand the immense effort required to compile one of the most important dictionaries in history. A must-have for linguists, writers, and anyone with a passion for the power and beauty of language. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Creative Media Partners, LLC
• Seitenzahl: 22
• Erscheinungstermin: 28. März 2025
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 234mm x 156mm x 1mm
• Gewicht: 45g
• ISBN-13: 9781023012720
• ISBN-10: 1023012723
• Artikelnr.: 74074248

Autorenporträt

Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709 [OS 7 September] - 13 December 1784), often referred to as Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor, and lexicographer. Religiously, he was a devout Anglican[1], and politically a committed Tory. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography describes Johnson as "arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history".[2] He is the subject of James Boswell's The Life of Samuel Johnson, described by Walter Jackson Bate as "the most famous single work of biographical art in the whole of literature".[3] Born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, Johnson attended Pembroke College, Oxford, for just over a year, but a lack of funds forced him to leave. After working as a teacher, he moved to London, where he began to write for The Gentleman's Magazine. His early works include the biography Life of Mr Richard Savage, the poems London and The Vanity of Human Wishes, and the play Irene. After nine years of work, Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language was published in 1755. It had a far-reaching effect on Modern English and has been acclaimed as "one of the greatest single achievements of scholarship".[4] This work brought Johnson popularity and success. Until the completion of the Oxford English Dictionary 150 years later, Johnson's was the pre-eminent British dictionary.[5] His later works included essays, an influential annotated edition of The Plays of William Shakespeare, and the widely read tale The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia. In 1763, he befriended James Boswell, with whom he later travelled to Scotland; Johnson described their travels in A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland. Towards the end of his life, he produced the massive and influential Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, a collection of biographies and evaluations of 17th- and 18th-century poets.