Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-08-27
An important Contribution to Eng
Iish Lexicography.

An important Contribution to Eng
Iish Lexlcography.
The placing before the public of the
completed Funk & Wagnalps Standard
Dictionary of the English Language,
upon whi3h work has been in progress
for nearly five years, gives to the reading
world a work which it is difficult to
praise too highly. The magnitude of the
task of preparing such a work is not easy
of comprehension, but some idea of it
may be gained from the statement that
there were engaged in the production Of
the Standard Dictionary PAT Office editors
and specialists, with nearly 800 readers
for quotations, ami some hundreds of
other men and women who have rendered
effective service in various ways. The
editors were chosen from the ranks of the
ablest English and American scholars,
each an authority, and representing all
that is latest and most approved in his
especial field; so the work may Justly be
said to be 1.-THE joint product of many
minds, rejecting the whole scholarship
of the present age"
There are many features in which
genuine advance over the completest
work of a similar nature is noted, and
continued use of the book proves it's I'M
surpassed value and special adaptation
to the use of busy people. While it is
full and comprehensive on the one hand,
it has also been so carefully edited as to
eliminate useless or unnecessary express
sions. Being the latest publication it has
the advantage of previous works, and
Outranks its competitors at Numerous
points. Its vocabulary exceeds 100000
words, an increase of 5000 over the most
recently published. While this in itself
would count for little, careful eXamina-
ton will show that the increase is due to
the pains-taking research into ali litera-
ture for previously unrecOrded important
terms, and that all arts and trades have
been made to contribute words which are
of importance to individuals making
study along those particular lines. The
compact and convenient form of the
book adds to its value as work of ref
erPnce. IL is put out in one or two-vol-
ume form, with substantial yet rich bind
ing: the one volume, though heavy and
large, is not unwieldy, while the twO-yOl
ume edition is of very convenient size
and shape. The print, though fine, is
exceptionally clear and easily read.
Consultation of the book is made easy by
the introduction of thumb-holes on the
margins properly lettered. The initial
letters are repeated on the margins of
each page and also on the binding oppO
site the thumb-hole, so that any letter
may be readily opened to from back or
front of the book
The arrangement of the book shows
what may be accomplished by condensa-
ton and system. The idea of grouping
related words has been followed out with
excellent results. For instance, under
the single word architecture, the
reader is referred to 20 other words, rep
resenting types of architecture, under
each of which the subject is explained
and further distributed. Another form
of grouping brings together under par
ticula: subject, as agriculture, the
technical words and principal terms en-
ployed in it. Derivatives are also grouped
Oftentimes with the stem word. \ valu-
able feature of the Standard is its consis-
tency with itself, especially in syllabica-
tion, cOmpOunding and capitalization. A
careful attempt has been made to system
atize the use of hyphened words. No
other dictionary has attempted to set any
standard for capitalization, but in this
book the words are printed in lower case
throughout, except proper nouns and
proper adjectives, where the capital letter
is used, in accordance with grammatical
rules.
The merit of the Standards definitions
is that they are concise, simple and to the
point. Close distinctions are sharply
noted Much care is taken to make tech
nical and scientific terms clear and exact,
it being particularly valuable in these re-
spects In the accuracy and clearness of
its definitions rests the chief value of
dictionary, and in this regard the Stand
ars excels. Disputed spelllngs and pro
nunciations have been considered by an
advisory board of 80 philologists from all
the English-speaking countries, and de-
cisions reached only after careful com
parison of the opinions of each with the
others. Special attention is given to lists
of synonyms and autonyms, this depart
ment being very full and complete.
Illustrations are freely but judicious.y