Laurie and I just attended a fascinating lecture on dictionaries presented by Professor Lynda Mugglestone. Look her up on Amazon.  I will need to buy some of her books! Dictionaries are not just a long list of words and definitions. Mugglestone made the case that all dictionaries are very partial and are very selective - and they reflect the social and cultural norms of the time in which they were written. Dictionaries can be very controversial – should a word be added or should it be left out because the word is too “common” or too new. She is currently writing a book on Samuel Johnson and it was wonderful that I was able to visit Johnson’s London house last Saturday. It made the lecture so much more meaningful.

This has been an amazing trip.  Thank you USM!