The title of my weekly segment with Peta Credlin on Sky News is ‘Words Matter.’
That title was coined by Peta, and it’s a sentiment I heartily endorse.
I have just found a wonderful explanation of why that is so.
It comes from British novelist and poet John Wain in his brilliant biography of Samuel Johnson.
You may remember that Johnson spent nine years singled handedly compiling the first really serious dictionary of the English language.
He used the services of half a dozen copyists to write out the quotations he had found, but all the research, and the brilliantly written definitions, were his alone.
His book was not the very first English dictionary, but it was the first that mattered.
It came out in 1755—with his famous preface about dictionary making in the front.
That preface alone is worth reading—a superb piece of English prose, that still says important things.
John Wain explains that it is:
‘…an account of the way he understands language and its functions; and as such it is the utterance of not only one man but of a society that pinned its faith on language, on verbal and written utterance, as we pin ours on technology. To Johnson, as to his age, language was the essential instrument of thought. In this view, sloppy and imprecise use of words, a habit of shovelling them about contemptuously as if they were so much gravel instead of a collection of living entities each with its history and personality, can produce only half-baked thinking which blurs distinctions and fails to get to the heart of anything. (Some of us still hold the same belief, even now, though most of the ‘thinkers’ in vogue in our society—sociologists e.g.—seem to have either abandoned the belief in clear and precise language or never heard of it.) Johnson believes that a language… is the fullest and best expression of the selfhood of any civilisation…’
That is, itself, a great piece of writing by John Wain.
And it neatly sums up what those of us who care about language believe.
Words matter!
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MEDIA...
The latest issue of The Spectator Australia (out today) includes my language column looking at the strange word 'mandamus' and at 'reconciliation.'
Here's the link to my piece about Anzac Day on Sky New online:
In the current edition of Quadrant I have an article on 'Orwell Updated' about politics and the English language.
I have signed the anti-Semitism pledge, and I encourage you to do the same. You can sign the letter here: www.saynotoantisemitism.org
Australian Geographic is out now (with cute, snow-bound penguins on the cover). My Ozwords column looks at 'cane toad politics' while my Placenames column explains the meaning of 'Wagga Wagga.'
If you'd like to see my A-Z list of Aussie slang you'll find it here in the Australian Geographic website -- A-Z list of Aussie slang. Here’s the link: The A-Z of Aussie slang - Australian Geographic
BY THE WAY...
The liveliest part of this website is usually the Q and A page -- be sure to check it out from time to time.
BOOKS:
* My latest book is -- "Defending the Gospel" (second, fully revised, edition). You can find it here: Defending the Gospel – matthiasmedia.com.au
* If you're looking for my recent book "Flash Jim" you'll find it here -- Flash Jim, The astonishing story of the convict fraudster who wrote Australia's first dictionary by Kel Richards | 9781460759769 | Booktopia
* You can find all Kel's books currently in print here -- Booktopia Search Results for 'kel richards'. We sell books, hardback, paperback, audio, CDs.
* And also here -- Amazon.com.au : Kel Richards
* And you'll find more here -- Search: 4 results found for "Kel Richards" – matthiasmedia.com.au
* Many of Kel's out of print books can be found at ABE Books -- Kel Richards - AbeBooks
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