The History of English - The Age of the Dictionary (7/10)

Summary

The script humorously outlines the history of English lexicography, highlighting Dr. Johnson's monumental effort to standardize spelling and definitions in his nine-year project, resulting in a 42,773-entry dictionary. It continues with the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary, which took 70 years to complete amidst various challenges. Despite these efforts, the script concludes that the continuous invention of new words makes the task of stopping linguistic evolution futile.

Takeaways

• 📚 The Age of the Dictionary marked an attempt to bring order to the English language's expansion.
• 🔤 Lexicographers emerged as professionals aiming to standardize English spelling and usage.
• 📖 Dr. Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language was a monumental effort, taking nine years to complete.
• 🔢 The dictionary contained 42,773 entries, showcasing the vastness of the English lexicon at the time.
• 🏙️ Despite its size, the dictionary served practical purposes, such as reaching high shelves.
• 🗣️ It provided clarity to obscure terms like 'pickleherring', 'jobbernowl', and 'fopdoodle'.
• 🆕 Words continued to be invented despite efforts to standardize the language.
• 🎓 The Oxford English Dictionary was initiated in 1857 and took 70 years to complete.
• 👨‍🏫 The编纂 process faced numerous challenges, including the resignation of the first editor, the death of the second, and the tedium that led to the departure of volunteers.
• 📅 The Oxford English Dictionary was finally published in 1928 and has been continuously revised since then.
• 🚫 The ongoing revisions demonstrate the futility of trying to halt the natural evolution of language.

Q & A

What was the main goal of lexicographers during the Age of the Dictionary?

The main goal of lexicographers was to put an end to the anarchy in spelling and usage of the English language by standardizing it.

Who is Dr. Johnson and what is he famous for?

Dr. Johnson was a renowned lexicographer famous for his work 'Dictionary of the English Language', which took him nine years to write.

How many entries did Dr. Johnson's dictionary contain?

Dr. Johnson's dictionary contained 42,773 entries.

What was the physical size of Dr. Johnson's dictionary?

The dictionary was 18 inches tall.

What were some of the slang terms included in Dr. Johnson's dictionary?

Some slang terms included were 'pickleherring', 'jobbernowl', and 'fopdoodle'.

What was the impact of Dr. Johnson's dictionary on the English language?

It provided a standardized spelling and meaning for words, allowing people to understand each other better.

What is the Oxford English Dictionary and when was it started?

The Oxford English Dictionary is a comprehensive dictionary of the English language, started in 1857.

How long did it take to complete the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary?

It took 70 years to complete the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary.

What were some of the challenges faced during the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary?

Challenges included the resignation of the first editor, the death of the second from TB, and the third editor being so boring that volunteers quit.

When was the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary published?

The first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was published in 1928.

What is the current status of the Oxford English Dictionary?

The Oxford English Dictionary has continued to be revised ever since its first publication, indicating an ongoing effort to keep the language documented.

What does the term 'snuffbumble' mean as used in the script?

In the context of the script, 'snuffbumble' humorously suggests that the idea of stopping the creation of new words is futile or nonsensical.