Samuel Johnson

Preface to a Dictionary of the English Language (eBook, ePUB)

Seminal insights on English language's evolution and usage

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

In the "Preface to a Dictionary of the English Language," Samuel Johnson presents not only a comprehensive guide to the English language but also a profound exploration of its intricacies and nuances. Written in a period marked by linguistic evolution, Johnson's preface employs an eloquent style that marries clarity with intellectual rigor, offering insights into the moral and philosophical dimensions of language. This seminal work lays the groundwork for lexicography, addressing the necessity of a standardized language while highlighting the dynamism inherent in words, their meanings, and their usage over time. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), an influential writer and lexicographer of the 18th century, was motivated by a keen interest in etymology and societal standards. His experiences as a poet, essayist, and wit shaped his understanding of language's role in culture and communication. Throughout his life, he faced personal adversities, including bouts of ill health, which further influenced his reflective approach to literature and the power of words. The "Preface to a Dictionary of the English Language" is not merely a prelude to a lexical reference; it invites readers to contemplate the beauty and complexity of their own linguistic heritage. For anyone seeking to understand the evolution of English or the philosophical underpinnings of lexicography, this work stands as a crucial reference point.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Good Press
• Seitenzahl: 119
• Erscheinungstermin: 21. November 2019
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 4057664648556
• Artikelnr.: 58499825

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.