English Dictionaries, 800-1700

The Topical Tradition

Werner Hüllen author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Oxford University Press

Published:9th Dec '99

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English Dictionaries, 800-1700 cover

Between the beginnings of European lexicography and 1700, many glossaries and dictionaries were arranged not according to the alphabet, but in a topical order which followed the influential paradigms of theology, philosophy, and natural history at that time. Together with related text genres like treatises on terminology, didactic dialogues, and thesauri, they constitute the topical (or onomasiological) tradition which is an important lexicographical tradition in its own right. This book discusses the tradition's principles and origins, and by way of illustration draws upon early glossaries, treatises for the learning of foreign languages, and didactic dialogues. Later comprehensive works are presented as detailed in-depth studies. Professor Hüllen demonstrates that the English tradition is embedded in a complex Continental tradition whose important representatives, such as Adrianus Junius and Comenius, had a great influence on the English scene.

Hüllen draws on and documents a wealth of widely scattered and relatively inaccessible literature, makes revealing and sometimes surprising interdisciplinary connections ... Hüllen manages to bring to life relatively dry and difficult material by applying modern techniques to remote frameworks ... setting new standards for research on dictionary history. * Anglistik *
This is a work of enormously broad scholarship, which brings together a range of quite diverse elements into a coherent narrative which makes for absorbing and often surprisingly entertaining reading. All in all this is a rich and multifaceted book, and one which will appeal to a variety of audiences. * David Cram, International Journal of Lexicography *
This is a rich and multifaceted book, and one which will appeal to a variety of audiences. For specialists in more than one area it will undoubtedly become one of the standard reference works. * David Cram, Int Journal of Lexicography *

ISBN: 9780198237969

Dimensions: 242mm x 162mm x 32mm

Weight: 908g

544 pages