Lynch.respect++;

"The [English] language is, by its very nature, a work in progress; the only way a dictionary can hope to do it justice is to be a work in progress too."

Why is this guy's rhetoric so beautiful?
Why can't I write like him?!

I'd probably write with a lot less authority in my tone. "The language is forevermore changing. It's driven by a force unable to be tamed by any lexicographer or academy, and so our linguistic authorities must choose to honor this truth. The success of any dictionary lies in this truth; it must always be constantly changed and updated." (Wow, just don't judge please. Just don't even.)

Anyways... yes, he does drag on in his book, The Lexicographer's Dilemma. But his writing style is most admirable. I find it a bit hard to follow his points sometimes, since he goes off at the weirdest times and says the most irrelevant information. It's okay though. It's okay. I accept his digressions, because the way he digresses is beautiful.

My god, can I please write like him? His transitions are great. He comes off as a bit arrogant, especially when he includes humorous commentary. It's okay though. It's okay, because he's a wonderful writer.

I could spend all day analyzing how he writes. I have no idea how he does it, but that's my basic repetitive gist on him above. ^

Hella respect for James Lynch.


Ps. I can't imagine the amount of research that went into this book. He's obviously a professional lexicographer and not one of those mavens he mentioned! I question some of his contradictory thoughts... but it's okay! He's excused in my mind. Haha.

I guess there's just a few more things I wish he could've addressed. Like what gives Murray's dictionary the authority it received? Why did people pick Webster's over Johnson's? And Murray's over the both of them? I can only assume a bit from the information he gave us about the culture of the time. I just wish he'd explicitly state it though. Perhaps he'll address it in the conclusion. I have ~120 pages left!