Samuel Johnson And His Dictionary In Context

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), well-known in the English world as "a true-born Englishman" and "an English saint", has also lent his name to an important period in the history of English literature. Among his manifold achievements, A Dictionary of the English Language (1755) is popularly believed to be the most capital monument of human genius.Much research has been done on Samuel Johnson in the last two centuries. But a general review of related literature shows an inadequacy of research on his dictionary in comparison with his literary works. In comparison with The Oxford English Dictionary, his dictionary is a much less studied subject. Within the research of his dictionary, much less emphasis has been put on cultural factors than on linguistic ones. With the rapid development of lexicography in China as well as in the West, it is important for us to review the facts and features of Johnson's dictionary with implications for the new century. With a solid background of the history of English lexicography, the present paper tries to make a comparison of the texts of different versions (the first edition, the revised fourth edition, and the first abstracted edition) of A Dictionary of the English Language, as well as a comparison of these texts and the texts of earlier English dictionaries. Within the framework of cultural lexicography, the present author tries to review the strong and weak points of the dictionary, with the help of theories of meaning, linguistic description and prescription, langue and parole, the macrostructure and microstructure, and corpus linguistics. He tries to answer such questions as (a) What are the important features of A Dictionary of the English Language? What kind of lexicographical and cultural ideas can be inferred from the form and contents of the dictionary?(b) What are some of its strong and weak points, and what are the possible causes of these points?(c) How to evaluate the dictionary and how to learn from Samuel Johnson so as to produce better lexicographical works?So, after a general review of the literature in English lexicography and especially in the study of A Dictionary of the English Language, the author offers some examples to show how some of the features of the dictionary have been preceded by pioneers in lexicography and how Samuel Johnson has improved the techniques and established a tradition for others to follow. It can be shown that in his dictionary, in the word list, more emphasis has been put on common English words and their common usage; in definition, the literary style of the compiler has exerted much influence, and he often acts as a linguistic moralist in prescribing the usage of the language; and in verbal illustrations, great emphasis has been put on the cultural information as well as the linguistic information. All these features has made the Johnson's dictionary a very unique cultural product in the history of English lexicography. After the illustration and comments on the main features of the components of the dictionary, the author summaries the linguistic and cultural ideas that can be inferred from the great work. The linguistic ideas has guided the compiler in carrying out the corresponding job on each of the components of the dictionary. The cultural ideas, as manifested in the areas of knowledge and education, religion and morals, country and nation, language and literature, and the individual and the society, have made the dictionary a comprehensive encyclopedia of the eighteenth-century English society. Finally the paper discusses the dictionary's example in demonstrating the relationship between the compiler and the user, the relationship between the language system and the way of realization, and the cultural orientation of the main function of the dictionary. It is proved that the dictionary offers some very positive implications for the new century compiler in ways concerning the guideline of the project, and the form and content of the dictionary.In carrying out the present research, the author aims at four aspects of innovation. Firstly, the research is text based. This is supposed to be more persuasive than those done by writers who have never set their eyes on the pages of Samuel Johnson's dictionary, let alone earlier ones. Secondly, it is grounded in history. Everything about the dictionary should be analysed in the historical context so as to see its succession from the past or innovation for the future. Thirdly, it takes on a cultural perspective. The dictionary carries much cultural information, and it is necessary to know the cultural significance of the dictionary associated with such information. Fourthly, it is presented through a systemic method. The dictionary is a collection of all kinds of encyclopedic pieces of information. The reader will find the cross-references, footnotes, and index in the paper a rewarding guide in the circle of knowledge. Such knowledge will help the reader get a thorough understanding of Samuel Johnson and his dictionary.Johnson's dictionary has been a culmination of the150years of tradition in English lexicography before him, and has enlightened every compiler of English dictionaries for the coming150years. It is a wonderful case that demonstrates almost all the problems of a lexicographer and the possible ways of answer them. It deserves a cultural lexicographical study to give it full credit.