The evolution of English lexicography

The evolution of English lexicography

When the Act to facilitate the provision of Allotments for the Labouring Classes was before the House of Commons in 1887, a well-known member for a northern constituency asked the Minister who had charge of the measure for a definition of the term allotment, which occurred so often in the Bill. The Minister somewhat brusquely told his interrogator to look in the Dictionary, at which there was, according to the newspapers, a laugh. The member warmly protested that, being called upon to consider a measure dealing with things therein called Allotments, a term not known to English Law, nor explained in the Bill itself, he had a right to ask for a definition. But the only answer he received was Johnson's Dictionary! Johnson's Dictionary! at which, according to the newspapers, the House gave another laugh, and the interrogator subsided. The real humour of the situation, which was unfortunately lost upon the House of Commons, was, that as agricultural allotments had not been thought of in the days of Dr. Johnson, no explanation of the term in this use is to be found in Johnson's Dictionary; as, however, this happened to be unknown, alike to the questioner and to the House, the former missed a chance of scoring brilliantly, and the House the chance of a third laugh, this time at the expense of the Minister. But the replies of the latter are typical of the notions of a large number of persons, who habitually speak of the Dictionary, just as they do of the Bible, or the Prayer-book, or the Psalms; and who, if pressed as to the authorship of these works, would certainly say that the Psalms were composed by David, and the Dictionary by Dr. Johnson. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 11694
Author: Murray, James Augustus Henry
Release Date: Mar 1, 2004
Format: eBook
Language: English