Historical development of English lexicography

By txrcn5
  • 1440

    1. Period: Anglo-Saxon and Middle English (until ~1440)

    · The emergence of Glosses and Glossaries.
    · The Leiden and Erfurt Glosses, "Medulla Grammatica".
    · These were the first predecessors of dictionaries. They were initially created as lists of difficult Latin words with explanations in simpler Latin. Later, in England, Old English translations were added to the Latin words. Glosses were compiled into glossaries – prototypes of the first Latin-English dictionaries
    · Laid the foundation for dictionary-making by explaining the meaning of words.
  • 1550

    2. Period: The 16th Century (The Renaissance)

    · The rise of Foreign-Language and Classical dictionaries.
    · John Florio's Italian-English Dictionary (1599), Cooper's "Thesaurus" (1565).
    · The influence of the Renaissance and the development of international trade created a demand for foreign-language dictionaries. Dictionaries of this time were not called "dictionaries" but had elaborate titles like "garden" or "thesaurus."
    · Paved the way for the creation of specialized dictionaries of the English language.

  • 3. Period: Early 17th Century (1604)

    · The first "Dictionary of Hard Words".
    · Robert Cawdrey's "The English Dictionary" (1604), subtitled "An Interpreter of Hard Words".
    · Due to the influx of borrowed "inkhorn" terms into English, there was a need to explain their meaning to ordinary people. Cawdrey's dictionary was the first English book to use the word "dictionary" in its title.
    · Marked the birth of the true predecessor of the modern dictionary, aimed at explaining complex English vocabulary.

  • 4. Period: 1721 (A Turning Point)

    · Publication of Nathaniel Bailey's "Universal Etymological Dictionary of the English Language".
    · This was a revolutionary dictionary. Bailey was the first to pay attention to current usage, include etymologies, provide illustrative quotations, indicate pronunciation, show syllabification, and feature illustrations.
    · Bailey's dictionary set new standards for lexicography. It became the basis for Samuel Johnson's famous dictionary and influenced all subsequent practice.

  • 5. Period: 1755 (The Age of Enlightenment)

    · Event: The publication of Samuel Johnson's "A Dictionary of the English Language".
    · Johnson refined and extended Bailey's techniques. His two-volume work was notable for its systematic use of illustrative quotations, finely crafted definitions, fixation of spelling, and more comprehensive coverage of the vocabulary.
    · Johnson's dictionary became an authoritative work that dominated English letters for a century. For many, the word "dictionary" became synonymous with Johnson's work.
  • Period: to

    6. Period: Late 18th Century

    · The development of Pronouncing Dictionaries.
    · Thomas Sheridan's "A General Dictionary of the English Language" (1780) and John Walker's "A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary" (1791).
    · Continuing Johnson's mission to "fix" the language, lexicographers focused on standardizing and codifying "correct" pronunciation.
    · Laid the groundwork for indicating pronunciation in modern dictionaries.
  • Period: to

    7. Period: The 19th Century (1858-1928/1933)

    · The creation of the "New English Dictionary on Historical Principles" (NED), known as the Oxford English Dictionary (OED).
    · Sir James Murray, Sir William Craigie.
    · Influenced by the development of historical linguistics, this dictionary traced the history of every word and its meanings using dated quotations from its earliest recorded use. The project took 70 years to complete.
    · The OED became the most comprehensive and authoritative historical dictionary of the English language.

  • 8. Period: 1932 (A Look into the Future)

    · Publication of Henry Cecil Wyld's "Universal Dictionary of the English Language". Событие:
    · Although less comprehensive than the OED, this dictionary proposed innovative approaches: functional definitions (instead of logical ones), in-depth coverage of idioms, and modern etymologies.
    · Pointed towards possible future directions for dictionaries, focusing on greater practicality and accurate description of word usage.