“A Wiltshire word, according to Kennett”
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Javier Ruano-García
Abstract
This paper aims to cast light upon the making of Halliwell’s Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words (1847) focusing on some of the regional material contained in it. In particular, the paper examines the contribution of White Kennett’s unpublished Etymological Collections of English Words and Provincial Expressions, also known as MS Lansd. 1033, so as to measure the extent to which Halliwell relied on this hitherto unexplored source of regional lexis in the making of his dictionary. The analysis shows that Kennett’s manuscript furnished a significant amount of data to Halliwell’s work and that Halliwell treated them with care. At the same time, the analysis lays emphasis both on the linguistic legacy of Kennett’s work and the need for further research into one of the key sources of dialect words of the Late Modern English period prior to the publication of Joseph Wright’s English Dialect Dictionary.
Abstract
This paper aims to cast light upon the making of Halliwell’s Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words (1847) focusing on some of the regional material contained in it. In particular, the paper examines the contribution of White Kennett’s unpublished Etymological Collections of English Words and Provincial Expressions, also known as MS Lansd. 1033, so as to measure the extent to which Halliwell relied on this hitherto unexplored source of regional lexis in the making of his dictionary. The analysis shows that Kennett’s manuscript furnished a significant amount of data to Halliwell’s work and that Halliwell treated them with care. At the same time, the analysis lays emphasis both on the linguistic legacy of Kennett’s work and the need for further research into one of the key sources of dialect words of the Late Modern English period prior to the publication of Joseph Wright’s English Dialect Dictionary.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Uncovering layers of meaning in the history of the English language 1
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Part I. Graphemics and phonology
- Layers of reading in the Old English Bede 19
- Unlikely-looking Old English verb forms 39
- On the importance of noting uncertainty in etymological research 63
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Part II. Lexicology and semantics
- “A Wiltshire word, according to Kennett” 81
- Enforcing or effacing useful distinctions? 99
- The role of context in the meaning specification of cant and slang words in eighteenth-century English 129
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Part III. Syntax
- Let’s talk about uton 157
- Exploring part-of-speech profiles and authorship attribution in Early Modern medical texts 185
- The positioning of adverbial clauses in the Paston letters 211
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Part IV. Genres
- Complexity and genre conventions 233
- Formulaic discourse across Early Modern English medical genres 257
- “Treasure of pore men”, “countrymans friend” or “gentlewomans companion”? 301
- “I saw ye Child burning in ye fire” 319
- Name index 343
- Subject index 345
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Uncovering layers of meaning in the history of the English language 1
-
Part I. Graphemics and phonology
- Layers of reading in the Old English Bede 19
- Unlikely-looking Old English verb forms 39
- On the importance of noting uncertainty in etymological research 63
-
Part II. Lexicology and semantics
- “A Wiltshire word, according to Kennett” 81
- Enforcing or effacing useful distinctions? 99
- The role of context in the meaning specification of cant and slang words in eighteenth-century English 129
-
Part III. Syntax
- Let’s talk about uton 157
- Exploring part-of-speech profiles and authorship attribution in Early Modern medical texts 185
- The positioning of adverbial clauses in the Paston letters 211
-
Part IV. Genres
- Complexity and genre conventions 233
- Formulaic discourse across Early Modern English medical genres 257
- “Treasure of pore men”, “countrymans friend” or “gentlewomans companion”? 301
- “I saw ye Child burning in ye fire” 319
- Name index 343
- Subject index 345
