The Word Detective: Searching for the Meaning of It All at the Oxford English Dictionary

English language

Published April 27, 2016

ISBN:: 978-0-465-06069-6

View on Inventaire

(2 reviews)

1 edition

Rudi reviewed The Word Detective: Searching for the Meaning of It All at the Oxford English Dictionary by John Simpson

Review of 'The Word Detective: Searching for the Meaning of It All at the Oxford English Dictionary' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

While the memoirs of a former Oxford English Dictionary chief editor is not a page turner in the traditional sense, it's still a good read. John Simpson takes you through his working life from starting at the dictionary all the way until he retired, with only small glimpses of his personal life from time to time. You follow the dictionary in a period of complete change, from card indexes in storage, to a digital version, up until the online resource it's mainly known to be today. It focuses a lot on the mentality behind the lexicographic work, the reasons behind the choices made and the process of adding and revising defintions. But it never delves too far into any given subject, and he (consciously) stays away from lists of examples. Throughout the book, some words are highlighted and used as an excuse to geek out about etymology and language history.

…

While the memoirs of a former Oxford English Dictionary chief editor is not a page turner in the traditional sense, it's still a good read. John Simpson takes you through his working life from starting at the dictionary all the way until he retired, with only small glimpses of his personal life from time to time. You follow the dictionary in a period of complete change, from card indexes in storage, to a digital version, up until the online resource it's mainly known to be today. It focuses a lot on the mentality behind the lexicographic work, the reasons behind the choices made and the process of adding and revising defintions. But it never delves too far into any given subject, and he (consciously) stays away from lists of examples. Throughout the book, some words are highlighted and used as an excuse to geek out about etymology and language history.

This might sound as a really boring read - and I'm sure that's true for some - but Simpson manages to write about it all in a way that actually makes it quite accessible. Even if you're not crazy about lexicography. Simpson's dry wit is quite charming, too.

Rudi reviewed The Word Detective: Searching for the Meaning of It All at the Oxford English Dictionary by John Simpson

Review of 'The Word Detective: Searching for the Meaning of It All at the Oxford English Dictionary' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

While the memoirs of a former Oxford English Dictionary chief editor is not a page turner in the traditional sense, it's still a good read. John Simpson takes you through his working life from starting at the dictionary all the way until he retired, with only small glimpses of his personal life from time to time. You follow the dictionary in a period of complete change, from card indexes in storage, to a digital version, up until the online resource it's mainly known to be today. It focuses a lot on the mentality behind the lexicographic work, the reasons behind the choices made and the process of adding and revising defintions. But it never delves too far into any given subject, and he (consciously) stays away from lists of examples. Throughout the book, some words are highlighted and used as an excuse to geek out about etymology and language history.

…

While the memoirs of a former Oxford English Dictionary chief editor is not a page turner in the traditional sense, it's still a good read. John Simpson takes you through his working life from starting at the dictionary all the way until he retired, with only small glimpses of his personal life from time to time. You follow the dictionary in a period of complete change, from card indexes in storage, to a digital version, up until the online resource it's mainly known to be today. It focuses a lot on the mentality behind the lexicographic work, the reasons behind the choices made and the process of adding and revising defintions. But it never delves too far into any given subject, and he (consciously) stays away from lists of examples. Throughout the book, some words are highlighted and used as an excuse to geek out about etymology and language history.

This might sound as a really boring read - and I'm sure that's true for some - but Simpson manages to write about it all in a way that actually makes it quite accessible. Even if you're not crazy about lexicography. Simpson's dry wit is quite charming, too.