Eng lang important people and events

Who invented the first printing press and when

(William) Caxton in 1476

Who wrote the first grammar rules for English and when

(Robert) Lowth in 1762 (Mid-18th century)

Who wrote the first dictionary and when

(Samuel) Johnson in 1755

Who proposed an English Language institution (like the Academie Francais) and when

(Jonathan) Swift in 1712 (Early 18th century)

Who wrote the first pronunciation dictionary and when

(John) Walker in 1791 (Late 18th century)

How many words did the first dictionary have in it

Over 40,000

What regional spellings were chosen for the first dictionary and why

East Midlands spellings because that is where Oxford and Cambridge are situated which are highly influential and respected places

What language were Lowth’s grammar rules based on and why

Latin because of its high status and rigid stable system

What century were Lowth’s grammar rules in use until

The 20th century

What was the main criticism for Lowth’s grammar rules?

The rules had nothing to do with how people really said the word

What did Swift write as a proposal to standardise the English Language

“A Proposal for Correcting, Improving and Ascertaining the English Tongue”

What were Swift’s 3 main concerns about the English Language in “A Proposal for Correcting, Improving and Ascertaining the English Tongue”

• Shortened words e.g. acronyms (NASA), clippings (lab, gym)

• Invented words e.g. Shakespeare invented banter

• Unnecessary contractions e.g. don’t, can’t

Why might Swift choose to write “A Proposal for Correcting, Improving and Ascertaining the English Tongue” as a renowned satirist?

To reflect societal views or to mock current concerns about language by exaggerating his prescriptivism

What regional accent and pronunciations did Walker view most desirable and why

The London accent as opposed to “vulgar” common people accent, because of its association with the Royal Family and courts.

What does Walker’s (pronunciation guide dude) disdain for the “vulgar” common accent show in society at the time?

A class divide in language use