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Home > English Learning for Curious Minds > #39: The Story Of A Fantastic Dictionary
Podcast: English Learning for Curious Minds
Episode:

#39: The Story Of A Fantastic Dictionary
Category: Education
Duration: 00:13:54
Publish Date: 2020-03-27 00:05:00
Description:

In 1755, Samuel Johnson published an English dictionary that has gone down in history.

Not only was it the first of its kind, it was full of funny jokes.

Today we tell the story of this fantastic dictionary.

  • Dictionaries before 1755
  • Why Johnson's was so famous
  • Why was a dictionary needed?
  • Why was the English language a mess?
  • 'Fixing' English
  • Johnson's dictionary: 40,000 words of fine scholarship
  • Hidden joke 1: the definition of 'oats'
  • Hidden joke 2: the definition of 'lexicographer'
  • Hidden joke 3: the definition of 'lunch'
  • Why writing a dictionary is so hard

Key vocabulary: Scholarship, Intriguing, Politically correct, Authoritative, Captured, The masses, Painting a picture, Linguistic, Reflecting on, Estimated, Mess, Literacy, Formal, All-encompassing, Collate, Unsatisfactory, Fast-forward, Scene was set, Stabilise, Anomalies, Peculiarities, Set things straight, Hang on, Exceptions, Convoluted, Messy, Organism, Gargantuan, Rivalry, Harmless, Busies, Tracing, Unpleasant, Unappreciated, Extensive, Buried, Highlighted, Adapt, From scratch, Evolving


Full transcript and key vocabulary available on the website www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/the-story-of-a-fantastic-dictionary


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Learning English shouldn't be boring. It should open your mind.

English Learning for Curious Minds is a podcast aimed at intermediate level English speakers and above, where listeners learn fascinating things about the world while learning English.

There's no small-talk, no boring grammar exercises or vocabulary drills.

You'll learn English by listening, by hearing real conversations and real English, spoken by native speakers, and at a speed you can understand.

Listeners can subscribe to Leonardo English to get a copy of the transcript and key vocabulary for every podcast.

It's English learning, but for curious minds.
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