The lexicographer's dilemma: the evolution of ''proper'' English, from Shakespeare to South Park

In its long history, the English language has had many lawmakers--those who have tried to regulate or otherwise organize the way we speak. The Lexicographer's Dilemma offers the first narrative history of these endeavors and shows clearly that what we now regard as the only "correct" way to speak emerged out of specific historical and social conditions over the course of centuries. As historian Jack Lynch has discovered, every rule has a human history and the characters peopling his narrative are as interesting for their obsession as for their erudition: the sharp-tongued satirist Jonathan Swift, who called for a government-sponsored academy to issue rulings on the language; the polymath Samuel Johnson, who put dictionaries on a new footing; the eccentric Hebraist Robert Lowth, the first modern to understand the workings of biblical poetry; the crackpot linguist John Horne Tooke, whose bizarre theories continue to baffle scholars; the chemist and theologian Joseph Priestly, whose political radicalism prompted violent riots; the ever-crotchety Noah Webster, who worked to Americanize the English language; the long-bearded lexicographer James A. H. Murray, who devoted his life to a survey of the entire language in the Oxford English Dictionary; and the playwright George Bernard Shaw, who worked without success to make English spelling rational. Grammatical "rules" or "laws" are not like the law of gravity, or even laws against murder and theft--they're more like rules of etiquette, made by fallible people and subject to change. Witty, smart, full of passion for the world's language, The Lexicograher's Dilemma will entertain and educate in equal measure. For language buffs and lexicographers, copy editors and proofreaders, and anyone who appreciates the connection between language and culturethe illuminating story of proper English. In its long history, the English language has had many lawmakersthose who have tried to regulate, or otherwise organize, the way we speak. The Lexicographers Dilemma offers the first narrative history of these endeavors, showing clearly that what we now regard as the only correct way to speak emerged out of specific historical and social conditions over the course of centuries. As literary historian Jack Lynch has discovered, every rule has a human history, and the characters peopling his narrative are as interesting for their obsession as for their erudition. The struggle between prescriptivists, who prescribe a correct approach, and descriptivists, who analyze how language works, is at the heart of Lynchs story. From the sharp-tongued satirist Jonathan Swift, who called for a governmentsponsored academy to issue rulings on the language, and the polymath Samuel Johnson, who put dictionaries on a new footing, to John Horne Tooke, the crackpot linguist whose bizarre theories continue to baffle scholars; Joseph Priestley, whose political radicalism prompted riots; and the ever-crotchety Noah Webster, whose goal was to Americanize the English languageLynch brings to life a varied cast as illuminating as it is entertaining. Grammatical rules or laws are not like the law of gravity, or laws against theft or murdertheyre more like rules of etiquette, made by fallible people and subject to change. Charting the evolution of English, Jack Lynch puts todays debateswhether about Ebonics in the schools or split infinitives in the New York Times in a rich historical context, and makes us appreciate anew the hard-won standards we now enjoy. In its long history, the English language has had many lawmakers--those who have tried to regulate or otherwise organize the way we speak. Proper Words in Proper Places offers the first narrative history of these endeavors and shows clearly that what we now regard as the only "correct" way to speak emerged out of specific historical and social conditions over the course of centuries. As historian Jack Lynch has discovered, every rule has a human history and the characters peopling his narrative are as interesting for their obsession as for their erudition: the sharp-tongued satirist Jonathan Swift, who called for a government-sponsored academy to issue rulings on the language; the polymath Samuel Johnson, who put dictionaries on a new footing; the eccentric Hebraist Robert Lowth, the first modern to understand the workings of biblical poetry; the crackpot linguist John Horne Tooke, whose bizarre theories continue to baffle scholars; the chemist and theologian Joseph Priestly, whose political radicalism prompted violent riots; the ever-crotchety Noah Webster, who worked to Americanize the English language; the long-bearded lexicographer James A. H. Murray, who devoted his life to a survey of the entire language in the Oxford English Dictionary; and the playwright George Bernard Shaw, who worked without success to make English spelling rational. Grammatical "rules" or "laws" are not like the law of gravity, or even laws against murder and theft--they're more like rules of etiquette, made by fallible people and subject to change. Witty, smart, full of passion for the world's language, Proper Words in Proper Places will entertain and educate in equal measure. What Does Proper English Mean, And Who Gets To Say What's Right? Lynch Has Discovered Every Rule Of English Usage Has A Human History, And Makes Sense Only In A Historical Context. They're More Like Rules Of Etiquette, Made By Fallible People And Subject To Change. Vulgarities Of Speech: Homo Sapiens Learns To Speak -- The Age In Which I Live: John Dryden Revises His Works -- Proper Words In Proper Places: Jonathan Swift Demands An Academy -- Enchaining Syllables, Lashing The Wind: Samuel Johnson Lays Down The Law -- The Art Of Using Words Properly: Joseph Priestley Seeks Genuine And Established Principles -- The People In These States: Noah Webster Americanizes The Language -- Words, Words, Words: James Murray Surveys Anglicity -- The Taste And Fancy Of The Speller: George Bernard Shaw Rewrites The Abcs -- Direct, Simple, Brief, Vigorous, And Lucid: Henry Watson Fowler Shows The Way -- Sabotage In Springfield: Philip Gove Stokes The Flames -- Expletive Deleted: George Carlin Vexes The Censors -- Grammar, And Nonsense, And Learning: We Look To The Future. Jack Lynch. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 297-313) And Index. Vulgarities of speech: homo sapiens learns to talk -- The age in which I live: John Dryden revises his works -- Proper words in proper places: Jonathan Swift demands an academy -- Enchaining syllables, lashing the wind: Samuel Johnson lays down the law -- The art of using words properly: Joseph Priestley seeks genuine and established principles -- The people in these states: Noah Webster Americanizes the language -- Words, words, words: James Murray surveys anglicity -- The taste and fancy of the speller: George Bernard Shaw rewrites the ABCs -- Direct, simple, brief, vigorous, and lucid: Henry Watson Fowler shows the way -- Sabotage in Springfield: Philip Gove Stokes the flames -- Expletive deleted: george carlin vexes the censors -- grammar, and nonsense, and learning: we look to the future A history of correct English usage for language buffs and writing professionals documents the efforts of individuals who sought to establish specific rules in accordance with events and social conditions, in an account that includes coverage of such figures as Jonathan Swift, Samuel Johnson and Noah Webster.