A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary
John Walker · 1791
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Description
John Walker published his Critical Pronouncing Dictionary in 1791, setting out how English words ought to sound. Walker, once an actor, had become the leading teacher of elocution in London. His book marked the sounds of tens of thousands of words so that any reader could aim at approved speech.
Each entry gives spelling, pronunciation, and meaning, with rules and remarks where usage was in dispute. The dictionary served strivers who knew that accent could open or close doors in British society. For a century it was the authority on respectable pronunciation on both sides of the Atlantic. Its influence lingered in schools and pulpits long after newer guides appeared.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | John Walker |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 1791 |
| COLLECTION | REFERENCE |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 4675168 |
| LICENSE | Public Domain |
| RIGHTS | PUBLIC DOMAIN |
| SOURCE | Internet Archive |
Source: https://archive.org/details/acriticalpronou05walkgoog