Cover not available

Article published In: Grammarians, Skalds and Rune Carvers I
Edited by Robert Nedoma and Michael Schulte
[NOWELE 69:1] 2016
► pp. 95–112

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload PDF
authorization required

William Henry Fox Talbot (1800–1877) and the “Interim Period” in the history of English etymology

Published online: 15 March 2016
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/nowele.69.1.03lib
Henry Fox Talbot, the father of photography, was a polymath, and among his many publications we find works on mathematics, physics, astronomy, chemistry, archeology, ancient history, mythology, and Assyrian cuneiform inscriptions. He was also at home in botany. In 1847 he brought out a thick book titled English Etymologies. His archive at Cambridge allows one to trace the preparatory stages for this work. Talbot’s book is instructive as an example of how some talented, brilliantly educated, and industrious Englishmen in the forties of the nineteenth century went about discovering the origin of Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and English words. Talbot was aware of sound correspondences but did not feel bound by them. A list of his sources gives a good idea of the state of the art in England. Talbot’s etymologies are interesting only from this point of view. They should be studied as we study the efforts of much earlier researchers, that is, as part of the history of science.
References (76)
References
I. The Books Mentioned in Talbot 1847
Adelung, Johann C. 1808. Grammatisch-kritisches Wörterbuch der Hochdeutschen Mundart. Wien: B. P. Bauer, et al.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1806-1817. Mithridates. Berlin: Vossische Buchhandlung.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Armstrong, Robert A. 1825. A Gaelic dictionary.... London: J. Duncan.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bosworth, J. 1838. A compendious Anglo-Saxon and English dictionary. London: Reeves and Turner.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Brand, J. 1810. Observations on the popular antiquities of Great Britain.... London: Printed for Vernor, Hood and Sharpe, etc. (or New Castle upon Tyne, London: J. Johnson, 1777).Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cotgrave, R. 1611. A dictionary of the French and English tongues. London: Printed by Adam Islip.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Court de Gébelin, A. 1781. Monde primitif. Paris: L’auteur.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Donaldson, John W. 1838. The new Cratylus, or contributions towards a more accurate knowledge of the Greek language. Cambridge: J. and J. J. Deighton (or 1839—London: J. W. Parker).Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Facciolati, J. 1822. Dictionarium Latino-Gallicum.... Paris (another ed., 1839).Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Florio, J. 1611. Queen Anna’s new world of words. London: Printed by Melch Bradwood.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Forbes, D. & S. Arnot. 1828. A new Persian grammar…. London: Printed for the London Oriental Institute and W. Nicol.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gesenius, W. 1826 (1834). Hebräische Grammatik. Halle: Renger. (Or his Lexicon Manuale Hebraicum et Chaldaicum in Veteris Testamenti Libros . Lipsiae: Sum[p]tibus typisce G.C.C. Vogelii, 1832).Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Halliwell, James O. 1845. A Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words.... London: John Russell Smith.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hickes, G. 1705. Linguarum Vett septentrionalium thesaurus grammatico-criticus et archæologicus. Oxoniæ: E Theatro Sheldoniano.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ingram, J. 1807. An inaugural lecture on the utility of Anglo-Saxon literature.... Oxford: The University Press for the author.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Jamieson, J. 1808. An etymological dictionary of the Scottish language. Edinburgh: Printed for Archibald Constable, etc.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Johnson, S. 1755. A dictionary of the English language. London: Printed by W. Strahan for J. and P. Knapton, etc.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lemon, George W. 1783. English etymology. London: G. Robinson.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lhuyd, E. 1707. Archaeologia Britannica. Oxford: Printed at the theater for the author.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Macrobius, A. 1605. Grammaticæ Latinæ auctores antiqui…. Hanoviæ: Typis Wechelianis, apud Claudium Marnium, & hæredes Joannis Aubrii.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mallet, Paul H., et al. 1847. Northern antiquities.... London: H. G. Bonn.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Maßmann, H.V. 1834. Auslegung des Evangelii Johannis in gotischer Sprache.... München: George Jaquet.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Meidinger, H. 1833. Vergleichendes etymologisches Wörterbuch der gotisch-teutonischen Mundarten.... Frankfurt am Main: Bei Johann V. Meidinger. (2nd ed., 1836.)Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ménage, G. 1694. Dictionnaire étymologique ou les origines de la langue françoise.... Paris: J. Anisson. (2nd ed., Paris: Briasson, 1750.)Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Minsheu, J. 1617. Ductor in linguas. The Guide into the Tongues.... London: Publ. by the author. (2nd ed., London: John Haviland, 1627.)Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Morrison, R. 1840. English and Chinese vocabulary.... Calcutta: Thacker.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Murray, A. 1823. History of the European languages.... Edinburgh: A. Constable & Co.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Passov, F. 1813. Handwörterbuch der griechischen Sprache = Johann Gottlieb Schneiders Handwörterbuch der griechischen Sprache. Leipzig: Vogel (also, 1819–1823, 1826).Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Portus, A., et al. 1705. Souidas. Suidæ lexicon, græce & latine.... Contabrigiae: Typis Academicis.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Rees, A. 1819-1820. The Cyclopædia, or, Universal dictionary of arts, sciences, and literature. London: Longman, etc.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Schleusner, Johann F. 1820. Novus thesaurus philologico-criticus... Veteris Testamenti. Lipsiæ: In libraria Weidmannia.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Schwenck, K. 1834. Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache in Beziehung auf Abstammung und Begriffsbildung. Frankfurt am Main: Johann D. Sauerländer. (2nd ed., 1837; 3rd ed. 1838.)Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Skinner, S. 1671. Etymologicum Linguæ Anglicanæ.... Londini: Typis R. Roycroft.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Thomson, J. 1826. Etymons of English Words. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, London: Longman, etc.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Thorlacius, Skúli, Þórðarsson. 1778. Antiquitatum Borealium observationes miscellaneae. Hafniæ: Typis Sandero-Schröderianis.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tragus, H. (= Jérôme [Hieronymus Bock]). 1630. Kreüter Büch... Straßburg: W[ilhelm] C[hristian] G[laser].Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Verstegan, R. 1653. Restitution of Decayed Intelligence.... London: Printed by T. Newcomb for Joshua Kirton.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Vossius, Gerhard J. 1664. Etymologicon lingvae latinae.... Lvgdvyni: Sumtibus Petri Gvillimin.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Wedgwood, H. 1844-1846. On Onomatopoeia. Proceedings of the Philological Society 21. 109–118.
Wright, T. 1839. An essay on the state of literature and learning under the Anglo-Saxons.... London: C. Knight, et al.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
II. The Works Mentioned in the Paper (an asterisk marks the title occurring in I, above)
Anonymous. 1839. [Review of] H. Fox Talbot, The Antiquity of the Book of Genesis, Illustrated by Some New Arguments. London: Longman and Co., 1839, and Hermes, Or Classical and Antiquarian Researches. London: Longman and Co., 1839. The Literary Gazette 657–59.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1847a. [Review of] Talbot, H. Fox. 1847. The Literary Gazette 57–58, 87–89, 109–111.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1847b. [Review of] Talbot, H. Fox. 1847. The Athenæum 693–695.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1847c. [Review of] Talbot, H. Fox. 1847. The Critic 184–185.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1847d. [Review of] Talbot, H. Fox. 1847. The Gentleman’s Magazine 1847/21. 283–285.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1847e. [Review of] Talbot, H. Fox. 1847. The Examiner 2131.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1847f. [Review of] Talbot, H. Fox 1847. The Quarterly Review 811. 500–525.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Arnold, H.J.P. 1977. William Henry Fox Talbot: Pioneer of photography and man of science. London: Hutchinson Benham.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Booth, A.H. 1964. William Henry Fox Talbot: Father of photography. London: Arthur Barker Limited.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Considine, J. 2009. Stephen Skinner’s Etymologicon and Other English etymological dictionaries 1650–1700. Studia Etymologica Cracovensia 141. 123–151.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
*Johnson, S.
Junius = Francisci Junii Francisci filii Etymologicum Anglicanum (a posthumous ed. by Edward Lye). Oxonii: E Theatro Sheldoniano, 1743.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Liberman, A, with the assistance of A. Hoptman and N.E. Carlson. 2010. A Bibliography of English etymology. Minneapolis, London: University of Minnesota Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mackay, C. 1877. The Gaelic etymology of the languages of Western Europe.... London: Publ. for the author by N. Trübner.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
*Meidinger.
*Minsheu.
Mueller, E. 1865-1867. Etymologisches Woerterbuch der englischen Sprache. Coethen: Paul Schettler. (2nd ed., 1878.)Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
OED = The Oxford English Dictionary. James A.H. Murray, et al., eds. Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, 1884-1928. (2nd ed., 1992; 3rd, continuing ed. online: [URL].)Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Richardson, C. 1858. A new dictionary of the English language, combining explanation with etymology. London: Bell and Daldy.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Robinson, F.C. 2010. Noah Webster as etymologist. Neuphilologische Mitteilungen 1111. 167–173.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Robson, E. 2013. Bel and the Dragon: Deciphering Cuneiform after Decipherment. TBP 193–218.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Schaffer, S. 2013. Commentary. TBP 269–289.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
*Schwenck.
Skeat, Walter W. 1879-1882. An etymological dictionary of the English language. Oxford: At the Clarendon Press. (4th ed., 1910.)Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
*Skinner, Stephen.
Talbot, H. Fox. 1838-39. Hermes, or classical and antiquarian researches. London: Longman and Co.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1839. The antiquity of the Book of Genesis: Illustrated by some new arguments. London: Longman, Orme, Green, Brown and Longman.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1847. English etymologies. London: John Murray.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1848. Mr. H. Fox Talbot and the Quarterly Review. The Literary Gazette 1–6.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
TBP = William Henry Fox Talbot beyond photography. (Studies in British Art 23). M. Brusius, K. Dean, and C. Ramalingam, eds. New Haven, CT: The Yale Center for British Art, the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, 2013. Distributed by Yale University Press, New Haven & London.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
*Thomson, John.
Todd = S. Johnson. 1827. A dictionary of the English language. 2nd ed., by H.J. Todd. London: Longman, etc.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tooke, H.J. 1798-1805. Epea Pteroenta, Or, The diversions of parley. London: Printed for the author at J. Johnson’s.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Trubetzkoy, N.S. 1939. Gedanken über das Indogermanenproblem. Acta Linguistica (Copenhagen) 11. 81–89. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Webster, N. 1828. An American dictionary of the English language. New York: S. Converse. (Several reprints; the reviewer could not see the 1847 ed. by Chauncey A. Goodrich.)Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Wedgwood, H. 1859-1865. A dictionary of English etymology. London: Trübner. (4th ed., 1888.)Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue