Jamieson's Dictionary of Scots:
The Story of the First Historical Dictionary of the Scots Language
Dr Susan Rennie


Published June 2012

Dr Susan Rennie has written the first complete study of compiling of John Jamieson's 1808 Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language, the first of its type as a history of the Scots Language. It became a reference for the lexicographers who followed him, including the founder of the Oxford English Dictionary, Sir James Murray.  Sir Walter Scott contributed to the compilation.

In the first part Dr Rennie reviews Jamieson's life and biographers, his early life, ministry in Forfar,  his move to Edinburgh, his Antiquarianism, early works, George Hutton, George Chalmers and Caledonia, his contributions to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, theological works, the Scots Poems, and editions of The Bruce and Wallace.  The second part looks at his models and rivals, Thomas Ruddiman, Ramsay, Burns and Boswell, Hailes, Robert Allan, Johnson, Jonathan Boucher and his first lexicography: Forfarshire Place Names, the Statistical Account and the Kelpie Glossary. Part three details the shaping of the Dictionary, Thorkelin, 'the learned stranger' starting the Dictionary notes on Pinkerton's Glossary, a new Scots glossary, gathering sources, fellow bibliophiles, older Scots texts, drafting the Dictionary and the Ruddiman annotations. Part four assesses 'The Pulse of the Public', the promotion and publication of the Dictionary, circulation of the Proposal, promoting of the Dictionary, the subscription scheme, the publication and distribution of the Dictionary.  Part five looks inside the Dictionary, overview, the 1808 Preface, the Dissertation on the Origin of the Scottish Language, lexicographic features, historical principles, headword form and order, incorporation of glossaries, selection of authorities, and spoken usage. It looks at how it was received.  Part 6 looks at the revision and collaboration in the Abridgement and Supplement of 1818 including contributors, George Kinloch, Sir Robert Liston and Sir Walter Scott.  The seventh and final part looks at the Dictionary after Jamieson, posthumous editions, Tait and Johnstone: the second edition, Longmuir and Donaldson; the third edition, the last edition and unofficial supplements. It discusses Jamieson as a lexicographic source, in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), The English Dialect Dictionary (EDD) and Scottish National Dictionary (SND), his influence in the twentieth century and postulates future research.

ISBN-10: 019963940X ISBN-13: 978-0199639403

Links

Jamieson's Dictionary of Scots:  The Story of the First Historical Dictionary of the Scots Language by Dr Susan Rennie on Google Books

Jamieson's Dictionary of Scots: The Story of the First Historical Dictionary of the Scots Language: Amazon.co.uk: Susan Rennie: Books

John Jamieson: The man who saved Scots’ tongue – with help from his landlady - Arts - Scotsman.com

Jamieson's Dictionary of Scots: The Story of the First Historical Dictionary ... - Susan Rennie - Google Books

Jamieson's Dictionary of Scots - Archive.org