A Preface To A Dictionary Of The English Language

A Preface to a Dictionary of the English Language is a book written by Samuel Johnson, a prominent English writer and lexicographer. The book was originally published in 1755 and is considered one of the most important works in the history of English language studies.The book is essentially an introduction to Johnson's monumental work, A Dictionary of the English Language, which was published in the same year. In the preface, Johnson explains his motivations for creating the dictionary and outlines his methodology for compiling it.Johnson's dictionary was groundbreaking in its approach to lexicography. Rather than simply listing words and their definitions, Johnson sought to trace the historical development of the English language and provide examples of how words were used in literature and everyday speech. He also included etymologies and quotations from notable writers and thinkers.In the preface, Johnson discusses the challenges he faced in compiling the dictionary, including the vastness of the English language and the difficulties of determining the correct spelling and pronunciation of words. He also defends his decision to include ""low"" or ""vulgar"" words in the dictionary, arguing that they are just as important to the language as more refined vocabulary.Overall, A Preface to a Dictionary of the English Language provides valuable insights into Johnson's approach to lexicography and the historical context in which his dictionary was created. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and development of the English language.Among these unhappy mortals is the writer of dictionaries; whom mankind have considered, not as the pupil, but the slave of science, the pionier of literature, doomed only to remove rubbish and clear obstructions from the paths through which Learning and Genius press forward to conquest and glory, without bestowing a smile on the humble drudge that facilitates their progress. Every other authour may aspire to praise; the lexicographer can only hope to escape reproach, and even this negative recompense has been yet granted to very few.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.