Question

Read the excerpt from Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language. The two languages from which our primitives have been derived are the Roman and Teutonick: under the Roman I comprehend the French and provincial tongues; and under the Teutonick range the Saxon, German, and all their kindred dialects. The underlined word emerges as a key term in Johnson’s preface because it

Answer 1

explains words’ origins and variations.

c on edge

Answer 2

Answers will vary, but you might say that Johnson’s intended audience was his fellow countrymen. Johnson writes, "In hope of giving longevity to that which its own nature forbids to be immortal, I have devoted this book, the labour of years, to the honour of my country."

You might instead argue that Johnson’s intended audience was his fellow lexicographers. Throughout the text, he responds to the efforts of authors and academics who are also trying to standardize the language, particularly Johnathan Swift.