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Monday, July 13, 2009

A FISTFUL OF WORDS

Column: The Passing Scene
By: Dennis M. Patrick
Date: July 10, 2009

I recently consulted one of my many dictionaries with a question in mind. Before I realized it, I was immersed in fascinating details and time flew by.

I’ve always been intrigued with words and word usage. Aside from the very specific purpose of confirming spellings, pronunciations and definitions, what I find alluring are the introductions, forwards and prologs to various dictionaries. The wealth of information buried in those brief blurbs constitute an education in itself.

Who would ever think of reading a dictionary? Of course, the idea is not to sit and read the book from cover to cover. I’m referring to the explanatory material at the beginning. Such information is there for the taking.

Reading the definition of “dictionary” in a dictionary is like looking at your reflection in a mirror while looking at yourself in another mirror. The more you look, the more infinite the gaze.

According to my “Webster’s College Dictionary,” a dictionary is basically a collection of words with information about their meaning, pronunciation, derivation, spelling and inflection. Simple enough.

The English language has an extraordinarily rich history. Unique and distinct people groups made their contributions over the millennia. Consequently, the English language grew in complexity.

The first “modern” English dictionary, “A Dictionary of the English Language,” was published in 1755 by the erudite Samuel Johnson. Although not the first English dictionary, it was the first to bring together words arranged alphabetically with textual references and is the most influential dictionary in the English language. Read the background of the book in James Boswell’s “Life of Johnson.”

Johnson’s dictionary remained dominant for 150 years until the “Oxford English Dictionary” was completed in 1884 after a long and tortured history. It was twenty-three years from the time of conception until printed by the Oxford University Press. The current edition spans over twenty volumes.

In 1807 Noah Webster began compiling “An American Dictionary of the English Language.” It was not until 1828 that his first edition was published. He believed English spelling rules were too complicated and wished to simplify them for American use. He also wished to include uniquely American words like “skunk” and “squash” that did not appear in British dictionaries.

Innumerable categories of dictionaries abound. In particular are the specialized dictionaries for people with singular demands. For example, “20,000 Misspelled Words” contains page after page of word lists for bad spellers.

Whereas anyone might turn quickly to a spelling dictionary, writers might have need of a rhyming dictionary or a dictionary of similes. If prose is the language of reason, poetry is the language of feeling and the expression of emotional experience. Looking for the right word, and a rhyming word at that, sometimes just doesn’t come to mind. That’s where a rhyming dictionary comes in handy. One, two and three syllable rhyming words are organized for the taking.

My copy of “Dictionary of Similes” is a cross between a basic dictionary and a thesaurus, a thesaurus being a book of synonyms and antonyms including related and contrasting words. My similes dictionary list words alphabetically and are tied to specific quotations of famous people illustrating context and helping the writer avoid clashing comparisons. A well-placed simile expresses meaning and adds sparkle.

Bible dictionaries are keyed to words found in various translations of the Bible. Lexicons are even more specialized usually concentrating on Greek, Latin and Hebrew words.

Foreign language dictionaries define and translate words from one language to another.

The categories of dictionaries goes on and on. Political, medical, literary, cultural and legal fields of study, and more, have their own special vernacular.

For fun, Ambrose Bierce produced his satirical book, “The Devil’s Dictionary,” in which he redefines some commonly used words with wit and bite in an off-beat way.

Keep in mind, each of these dictionaries includes a forward, prolog or introduction of some sort to account for the book’s objective and contents.

So it is, during “down time,” I can profitably while away an hour or so. Browsing through dictionaries renders a rich source of satisfaction and enlightenment demonstrating that the smallest spark of curiosity may ignite the lamp of knowledge.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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