The English Dialect Dictionary, Vol. 1: Being the Complete Vocabulary of All Dialect Words Still in Use, or Known to Have Been in Use During the Last Two Hundred Years; A-C (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The English Dialect Dictionary, Vol. 1: Being the Complete Vocabulary of All Dialect Words Still in Use, or Known to Have Been in Use During the Last Two Hundred Years; A-C

I had hoped to give a classification of the Dialects in this Preface, but I now think that it will be better to wait until I have finished a greater portion of the Dictionary. From the words contained in this volume, it would be easy to give a sketch-map showing clearly those districts in which the Norse element is particularly strong. It is also most remarkable how in certain districts many French words have been preserved, which are now obsolete in the literary language. At present I have not the necessary leisure to work out and account for the fact that in Ireland the dialects of some districts are essentially Scotch. Whilst in other districts they agree with those of the West of England. Also it cannot be a mere accident that the dialect. Of South Pembrokeshire contains quite a number of words of flemisfi origin. Later on I hope to work out these matters fully, and also to account. For the special peculiarities of the K'entish dialects. It will also be easy to show that a great many words which are now confined to particular districts, were confined to those districts already in the Middle Ages, e. G. Early illustrations of. Many words still in use in East Anglia are only to be f0und' in the Promptorium; the same applies to many modern Yorkshire words and the York Mystery Plays. In fact, when the Dictionary is completed it will be of immense value in helping to settle the dialect in which many of our middle-english manuscripts were written, and it will throw a flood. Of light upon many problems connected with Old and middle-english phonology.

Any one who takes the pains to examine the Dictionary will find that neither time nor trouble has been spared in order to' obtain accurate information. About popular games, customs, and supersti tions and, as far as possible, to give the literature -where further information will be found. In the etymological part of the dictionary, it must not. Be assumed that where no etymology is given there has been no attempt made to find one. The very Opposite is the case. It has often happened that dozens of dictionaries, special glossaries, and articles in philological journals have been carefully searched without any satisfactory results. In all such instances I' have preferred to give nothing rather than a mere guess. I'n thousands of instances it will be noticed that there is no previously printed authority for the use of words in some districts. In all such cases I give the initials of the persons who supplied the' information; and I may add that one of my senior assistants has spent over a fortnight in verifying these initials; so. That they may be accepted as being correct. Several words found in printed glossaries are omitted from.the Dictionary as being 'ghost Words.' All such words will be collected together and printed in the last volume.

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