A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary, and expositor of the English language: in which not only the meaning of every word is clearly explained, and the sound of every syllable distinctly shown, but where words are subject to different pronunciations, the authorities of our best pronouncing dictionaries are fully exhibited. to which are prefixed, principles of English pronunciations. A new edn, carefully revised, corrected & enlarged.

WALKER, John.

Published by Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson. 1840, 1840

About this Item

Half title, front. port. Orig. green cloth; sl. marked & rubbed. A nice copy. Nelson first published an edition of Walker's Dictionary in 1838; this 1840 edition is not recorded on Copac; three copies only on OCLC. John Walker, 1732-1807, enjoyed an eclectic career as an actor, philologist, and lexicographer. Married to the comic actress Miss Myners, Walker earned some success on the stage working under Garrick in Drury Lane and later at the Covent Garden Theatre. On leaving the stage, Walker took up teaching and began lecturing on elocution, a role that drew the patronage and friendship of Samuel Johnson and Edmund Burke. The ODNB notes that 'he was generally held in the highest esteem in consequence of his philological attainments. but according to Madame d'Arblay, "though modest in science, he was vulgar in conversation".' First published in 1791, Walker's Critical Pronouncing Dictionary was the standard work on English Orthoepy for almost a century. It was published in over 100 editions up until 1904 not withstanding the derivative publications it spawned. (O'Neill, p.364.) This edition published with the comprehensive rules of pronunciation (for Irish, Scottish and foreign readers as well as English), together with 'A key to the classical pronunciation of Greek, Latin, and scripture proper names.' Printed in two columns. Seller Inventory # 80085

Bibliographic Details

Title: A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary, and ...

Publisher: Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson. 1840

Publication Date: 1840

Binding: Hardcover