What is the name of first lexicographer of the world?

Answer 1

Thomas B. Albright - See

Either the question is wrong or the answer. I know English language, enough to say, the answer is wrong.

No disrespect to Thomas B Albright.

I do not know the answer, off hand but may be allowed to find it, later. This is to say, I shall work tenuously to be the first to answer the question, framed in the headline.

To wit:

Dept of Sanskrit lexicography at Deccan College Swati Shinde, TNN Nov 2, 2009, 03.08am IST

PUNE: The Deccan college post-graduate and research institute will set up country's first-ever Department of Sanskrit Lexicography, starting from academic year 2010-11. The department which will initially offer masters and doctorate courses in lexicography, will allow students to gain hands-on experience on the mammoth Sanskrit dictionary project, undertaken by the college way back in 1948.

Lexicology is the science of the study of word whereas lexicography is the writing of the word in some concrete form i.e. in the form of dictionary. It also includes the history, theory, methodology and typology of dictionary-making.

Director of the college Vinayaka Bhatta said, "For several years we have been working on the Sanskrit dictionary project. So, we realise the potential of lexicography in Sanskrit. Hence, we decided to set up a separate department for the subject. Also, the fact that there is no lexicography department or courses available exclusively for Sanskrit led us to set up one."

There are several universities in the country that offer lexicography courses in various other languages namely - Punjabi, English and even Tamil. But not Sanskrit. The Sanskrit lexicography course will get underway from next year even as the department will be set up on the premises of Deccan college.

"Once the course gains publicity and the department expands, we intend to build a separate building and add more courses," Bhatta said.

The Deccan College has undertaken the Sanskrit dictionary project which is described as one of world's biggest lexicography work having started in 1948 and expected to be completed in another 30 to 40 years from now.

Unlike conventional dictionaries which deal with word meanings as static, one-item entries, this Sanskrit dictionary adopts a historical approach, a special feature in the field of lexicography. The project has already seen three generations of lexicographers at work and many more to go.

The students applying for these courses will also gain hands-on experience on this mammoth project and further still they swill also get a chance to prepare their own dictionary as a project.

"There are several opportunities in the field today and a number of universities and colleges in the country and outside are involved in various projects related to lexicography. Also, students who pass out of this course can take up an initiative and prepare their own dictionaries," Bhatta said.

Presently, the Deccan College has three departments functioning, namely the department of Archaeology, department of linguistics and the Sanskrit dictionary project.

Poona, India (City). University. Centre of Advanced Study in Linguistics

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Deccan College, 1973 - Foreign Language Study - 131 pages

Studies in historical Sanskrit lexicography , Issue 3

Studies in historical Sanskrit lexicography , Issue 3

Poona, India (City). University. Centre of Advanced Study in Linguistics

0 Reviews

Deccan College, 1973 - Foreign Language Study - 131 pages

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Contents

Etymology and Historical Dictionary of Sanskrit 112 1

Sanskrit Historical Dictionary and Vedanta 1324 13

Traditional Lexicons and Sanskrit Historical Dictionary 2539 25

4 other sections not shown

Origin of Lexicography reveals that there were two categories of lexicons: synonymous and homonymous. There were dictionaries that were written by poets like Banabhatta, Mayura, Murari and Sriharsa. The Nighantus contained nominal and verbal forms. The Koshas contained only nouns. The former dealt with one special text, the latter was based on any special text. Koshas are written in verse and it incorporates expressions from many of the arts which a poet was expected to have mastered. The composition of such works may have been promoted by existence of Dhatupathas and other lists of the grammarians.

In synonymous lexicons words were grouped by subject-matter. Some of the important synonymous dictionaries included a homonymous section. As the books were aimed at learning, the principle of alphabetic order was not considered. They are divided accordingly on various principles. The longer articles may come first or the arrangement may be by the final consonants or the initial letters or both combined. In some cases information is given as to gender with an appendix on it. Homonyms may be treated in the same way. The older writers were indifferent to order. They were keen to give long definitions. However the later writers are unwilling to waste space and are proportionately unclear.

(Last Updated on : 24/05/2011)

Origin of Sanskrit Lexicography

Origin of Sanskrit Lexicography can be dated back to Nighantavas which is a collection of Vedic terms.

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