Bailey's Dictionarium Britannicum

Question 1

Give me 4 contextual facts about this dictionary.

Answer 1

Caxton’s printing press had a huge TECHNOLOGICAL effect on this dictionary- many copies sold and widely used in academia and law contexts.

Structure: Alphabetical

Over 48,000 entries on a range of topics: names of places/people, cookery, space and constellations, law, religion, folklore and science.

Bailey applied his dictionary in a Stepney school to teach people about the contents and rules of language

Question 2

Which famous linguist seen in David Crystal’s ‘Fight for English’ used this dictionary?

Answer 2

Used by Samuel Johnson who went on to write his “clear of the rubbish” dictionary in 1755

Question 3

Name me 6 things that the dictionary included.

Answer 3

1. Hard and technical words were included
2. Words to show experience of people/places names of the powerful class
3. Etymology of words including borrowings: Greek/Latin and Hebrew/French
4. 1700’s innovations in language tried to capture in the dictionary: slang and Taboo entry – different to other dictionaries until well into 19th Century
5. Definitions and phonological pronunciations of the words used in the time
6. to teach people about speech/reading and writing understanding

Question 4

Which 4 types of readers was this dictionary aimed for?

Answer 4

For students and Academics who were learning about language- including the ones he taught in the Stepney school.

For the “ignorant” who contributed to the incorrect of use of language.

International usage by foreigners- rules and words for comprehension of English language.

Lexicographer’s and those who were “curious” about changing language or agency of it.

Question 5

Explain how Bailey’s dictionary holds prescriptivist values.

Answer 5

Refers to the contributors of bad language as “ignorant.” So the dictionarium would hope to reform their lazy ways of talking or using language

His schooling may have been an academic development to teach people the right ways of using language

Question 6

Explain how Bailey’s dictionary holds descriptivist values.

Answer 6

Unlike other lexicographers- included taboo language, slang and dialect of the time.

Question 7

Examples of recognisable words used today.

Answer 7

In terms of science; “transmutation”– something that changes chemically from one thing—another: colour/physical state/appearance

In terms of law:
“Fair-pleading”– evidence in court will decide on the fate of someone–without proof-no charges against them

Question 8

Examples of obsolete/unrecognisable words.

Answer 8

Law
“Fait”— in law we don’t use this proceeding anymore- today we use “procedural,” “terms and agreements”

Description:
- Pediculation” is no longer used when talking about skin condition– we use: “hard skin” or “skin rash,” “infection”