Longman Modern English Dictionary [antikvár]

Foreword How often, when we want to look up something, do we find that it is not in the book we first turn to? It is either too general to be in the encyclopedia we happen to possess, or too specific to be in our dictionary. I know that for my own part I am frequently inconvenienced by the apparent arbitrariness with which the things I suddenly need to know are divided up between these two classes of reference book. And there is often the additional unfortunate consequence that the 'general' is treated too generally for my needs in the dictionary, and the 'specific' not generally enough in the encyclopedia. Let me hasten to say that British dictionaries, cast in the traditional mould, are second to none. This is thoroughly understandable, when one reflects that we were the pioneers in producing 'monolingual' dictionaries - those aimed at explaining the users' own language; and I grant that the cut-and-thrust of transatlantic competitive genius over many generations has resulted in a highly efficient and well-refined technique of lexicography. But many of us have been well aware that in other countries partially independent traditions have sprung up with their own kinds of excellence. France for example; and here we think in particular of the Larousse family of dictionaries, long the object of keen admiration. I have certainly often envied the French language and culture their 'Petit Larousse'. I was therefore personally delighted when - half a dozen years ago - Longman published Owen Watson's 'first approximation' to what the Larousse model could do towards transforming our ideas for a dictionary of English. The Larousse model is long-established and distinguished (as well as deservedly popular) in France, and it is in fact surprising that we have had to wait all this time for an English equivalent. But it is fitting enough that the Longman Larousse should have appeared when we in Britain - through increasing identity with the European Community - are becoming more flexible in our tastes and more demanding in our critical standards. We are surely ready for a dictionary which breaks down old reference barriers and which at the same time adopts a refreshingly clear style of definition and description together with an internationally accepted way of indicating pronunciation. The editor, Owen Watson, is uniquely fitted to the task of producing such a new type of encyclopedia-dictionary for English. A Cambridge graduate with years of experience in British academic publishing (as well as experience of life in India and Africa), he entered the Larousse firm in Paris precisely because he had come to feel the need for an English dictionary of the Larousse type, and wanted to study the French technique at first hand. Now, with his 'mark one' version thoroughly tested and tried, he has produced a completely revised edition, not merely (as he explains in his Preface) updating the information, but also incorporating many valuable improvements in principle, as a result of further thought, research, and the suggestions made by critics all over the world. Randolph Quirk Quain Professor of English Language and Literature. University College, London.