Chasing the Sun: Dictionary-Makers and the Dictionaries They Made

by Jonathon Green

From Sumerian clay tablets 4500 years ago to today's CDROMs, the evolution of lexicography is colorful. Explore its history thru the quirks & biases of the lexicographers who influenced English.
Illustrations
Preface
Introduction
The first lexicographers & the first "dictionaries"
The middle ages: putting it in order
The move from Latin
Vulgar tongues
Slang: part 1
The seventeenth century: hard words
The seventeenth century: variations & themes
The early eighteenth century
Samuel Johnson: the pivotal moment
America: the years before Webster
America: Noah Webster & Joseph Worcester
The new philology
The New English Dictionary
Slang: part 2
The modern world
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Language, Linguistics, Books About Books

525 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

I am a lexicographer, that is a dictionary maker, specialising in slang, about which I have been compiling dictionaries, writing and broadcasting since 1984. I have also written a history of lexicography. After working on my university newspaper I joined the London ‘underground press’ in 1969, working for most of the then available titles, such as Friends, IT and Oz. I have been publishing books since the mid-1970s, spending the next decade putting together a number of dictionaries of quotations, before I moved into what remains my primary interest, slang. I have also published three oral histories: one on the hippie Sixties, one on first generation immigrants to the UK and one on the sexual revolution and its development. Among other non-slang titles have been three dictionaries of occupational jargon, a narrative history of the Sixties, a book on cannabis, and an encyclopedia of censorship. As a freelancer I have broadcast regularly on the radio, made appearances on TV, including a 30-minute study of slang in 1996, and and written columns both for academic journals and for the Erotic Review.

My slang work has reached its climax, but I trust not its end, with the publication in 2010 of Green’s Dictionary of Slang, a three volume, 6,200-page dictionary ‘on historical principles’ offering some 110,000 words and phrases, backed up by around 410,000 citations or usage examples. The book covers all anglophone countries and its timeline stretches from around 1500 up to the present day. For those who prefer something less academic, I published the Chambers Slang Dictionary, a single volume book, in 2008. Given that I am in no doubt that the future of reference publishing lies in digital form, it is my intention to place both these books on line in the near future.

Reviews

[Adrienne Kiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given that dictionaries are one of my favorite things EVER, I actually squealed in glee when I came across this book. I was fascinated by the beginnings, and the book pretty much held my interest nearly to the end. My enthusiasm waned a little at the very close of the book, but that was merely because the author was putting forth his opinions on the inclusion of slang/pejorative terms in modern dictionaries. While a very real and worthy debate, I already agree with him, so the last part was more of me impatiently saying "yes, yes, you're totally right, now where's something I don't already know?"

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exhaustive (but not exhausting), dense, fascinating.

[Samantha · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm reading this for a class, and I've only read the introduction, but it isn't doing a great job of holding my attention. Just to get through the first 40 pages, I had to break it into at least five different sessions. While the information contained has potential to be interesting, thus far I am not impressed.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though a bit dry at times, this history has many fascinating aspects as Green reveals the personalities and ideas that drove the dictionary makers - and the out-and-out plagiarism that was standard practice.

[Angel · Rating 2 out of 5]

My journal note for this one only mentions that I found it a bit verbose at times. Overall, not the greatest book on the topic. A pity because it sounded so interesting when I picked it up.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Word Nerds Unite! If you have been struggling to save money to own your own personal copy of the Oxford English Dictionary (all 145 pounds), then you will like this book.

[Ayne Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

This study of lexicography didn't quite live up to my expectations, but was enlightening and intriguing nonetheless.

[Jack Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iam a word nerd, thought it was superlative!
Fathers day gift.

[Della Scott]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10420181