Paradigm shifts in 19th-century British grammar writing
A network of texts and authors
Systematic and comprehensive linguistic studies of 19th-century British grammar books are scarce. This is surprising since the 19th century has often been claimed to constitute a turning point in English grammar writing, particularly due to the assumed paradigm shift from prescriptive works to predominantly descriptive grammars, the emergence of the comparative-historical approach around 1830, and phonetics gaining importance in the 1890s.
Combining methods from network analysis and historical corpus linguistics, we aim to reassess these assumed (meta)linguistic developments in grammar writing by examining authors’ references to other grammarians in a corpus of 19th-century British grammars. We will show that changes, such as the turn away from prescriptive grammar writing, can indeed be further enhanced and systematically supported by quantitative results from the analysed network of referenced grammars and grammarians. Further, the analysis of the grammars’ lexical inventory shows which authors take the lead in terminological progress.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction: 19th-century grammar writing
- 2.The corpus and methodology
- 3.Results of network and frequency analysis
- 3.1Most frequently referenced grammarians
- 3.2Most frequently referencing grammar authors
- 3.3Network of grammarians’ references
- 3.4Distribution of linguistic keywords in the grammar corpus
- 3.4.1Comparative and historical
- 3.4.2Phonetic(s)/phonology
- 3.4.3Prescriptive/prescription and descriptive
- 4.Summary and conclusion
-
Notes
-
References
-
Corpus of 19th-century grammar books
-
Other grammar books
-
Appendix
References
Anderwald, Lieselotte
(
2016)
Language Between Description and Prescription: Verbs and Verb Categories in Nineteenth-Century Grammars of English. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Auer, Anita
(
2008)
Eighteenth-century grammars and book catalogues. In
Ingrid Tieken-Boon van Ostade (Ed.),
Grammars, Grammarians and Grammar Writing in Eighteenth-Century England (57–75). Berlin and New York: Mouton de Gruyter.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Bailey, Richard W.
(
1996)
Nineteenth-Century English. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Beal, Joan C.
(
2004)
English In Modern Times, 1700–1945. London: Arnold.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Bussmann, Hadumod
(
1998)
Routledge Dictionary of Language and Linguistics. Translated and edited by
George P. Trauth and
Kerstin Kazzazi. London and New York: Routledge.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Cameron, Deborah
(
1995)
Verbal Hygiene. London and New York: Routledge.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Chapman, Don
(
2008)
The eighteenth-century grammarians as language experts. In
Ingrid Tieken-Boon van Ostade (Ed.),
Grammars, Grammarians and Grammar Writing in Eighteenth-Century England (21–36). Berlin and New York: Mouton de Gruyter.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Dekeyser, Xavier
(
1975)
Number and Case Relations in 19th Century British English: A Comparative Study of Grammar and Usage. Bibliotheca Linguistica. Antwerpen et al.: De Nederlandsche Boekhandel.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Finegan, Edward
(
1998)
English Grammar and Usage. In
Suzanne Romaine (Ed.),
The Cambridge History of the English Language Vol. IV: 1776–1997. (536–588). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Görlach, Manfred
(
1999)
English in Nineteenth-Century England. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Hickey, Raymond
(Ed.) (
2010)
Eighteenth-Century English. Ideology and Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Howatt, Anthony P. R.
(
1984)
A History of English Language Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Linn, Andrew
(
2006)
English grammar writing. In
Bas Aarts,
April McMahon (Eds.),
Handbook of English Linguistics (72–92). Malden, Mass.: Blackwell.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
MacMahon, Michael K. C.
(
1998)
Phonology. In
Suzanne Romaine (Ed.),
The Cambridge History of the English Language Vol. IV: 1776–1997 (373–535). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
McGlashan, Mark
(
2015)
#CL2015 social media roundup: Using Corpus Linguistics to investigate Corpus Linguists talking about Corpus Linguistics.
ESRC Centre for Corpus Approaches to Social Science (CASS). Retrieved from
[URL]
Michael, Ian
(
1987)
The Teaching of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Onions, Charles Talbut
(
1921)
Henry Sweet. In
Dictionary of National Biography (519). London: Oxford University Press.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Oxford English Dictionary (OED)
Online.
December 2016 Oxford University Press.
[URL]
Prell, Christina
(
2012)
Social Network Analysis. History, Theory & Methodology. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Stuart, Keith, & Botella, Ana
(
2009)
Corpus Linguistics, Network Analysis and Co-occurrence Matrices. In Universidad de Murcia.
International Journal of English Studies (Special Issue, 1–28).
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Tieken-Boon van Ostade, Ingrid
(Ed.) (
2008)
Grammars, Grammarians and Grammar-Writing in Eighteenth-century England. Berlin/New York: Mouton de Gruyter.
![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
White, Howard D.
(
2011)
Scientific and Scholarly Networks. In
John Scott &
Peter J. Carrington (Eds.),
The SAGE Handbook of Social Network Analysis (271–285). London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Corpus of 19th-century grammar books
Abbott, Edwin A.
(
1871)
English Lessons for English People. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Alexander, Levy
(
1833)
The Young Lady and Gentleman’s Guide to the Grammar of the English Language in Verse. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Arnold, Thomas K.
(
1838)
An English Grammar for Classical Schools. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Bain, Alexander
(
1863)
An English Grammar. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Barnes, William
(
1878)
An Outline of English Speech-Craft. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Booth, David
(
1837)
The Principles of English Grammar. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Churchill, T. O.
(
1823)
A New Grammar of the English Language […]. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Cobbett, William
(
1818)
Grammar of the English Language, in a Series of Letters. New York.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Coghlan, John
(
1868)
Reformed English Grammar. Edinburgh.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Cramp, William
(
1838)
The Philosophy of Language. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Crane, George
(
1843)
The Principles of Language; Exemplified in a Practical English Grammar. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Crombie, Alexander
(
1802)
The Etymology and Syntax of the English Language, Explained and Illustrated. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Daniel, Rev. Evan
(
1881)
The Grammar, History and Derivation of the English Language. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Doherty, Hugh
(
1841)
An Introduction to English Grammar, on Universal Principles. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Duxbury, C.
(
1886)
A New English Grammar of School Grammars. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Earnshaw, Christopher
(
1817)
The Grammatical Remembrancer. Huddersfield.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Fleay, Frederick Gard
(
1884)
The logical English grammar. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Hazlitt, William
(
1809)
A New and Improved Grammar of the English Tongue. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
James, J. H.
(
1847)
The Elements of Grammar, according to Dr. Becker’s System. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Jamieson, Alexander
(
1818)
A grammar of rhetoric and polite literature. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Kigan, John
(
1825)
A Practical English Grammar, agreeably to a new System. Belfast.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Latham, Robert Gordon
(
1843)
An Elementary English Grammar. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Leigh, Percival
(
1840)
The Comic English Grammar. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Lennie, William
(
1810)
The principles of English grammar briefly defined, and neatly arranged. Edinburgh.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Marcet, Jane
(
1835)
Mary’s Grammar. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Mason, Charles Peter
(
1858)
English Grammar; including the Principles of Grammatical Analysis. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
McArthur, Alexander
(
1836)
An outline of English grammar for the use of schools. Dublin.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Meiklejohn, John
(
1862–1866)
An Easy English Grammar for Beginners. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Morell, John Daniel
(
1852)
The analysis of sentences explained and systematised: with an exposition of the fundamental laws of syntax. After the plan of Becker’s German grammar. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Murray, Gerald
(
1847)
The Reformed Grammar, or Philosophical Test of English Composition. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Nesfield, John Collinson
(
1898a)
English Grammar Past and Present. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Nesfield, John Collinson
(
1898b)
Manual on English Grammar and Composition. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Simmonite, Wiliam Joseph
(
1841)
The Practical Self-teaching Grammar of the English Language. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Smart, Benjamin H.
(
1847)
Grammar on its True Basis. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Steel, G.
(
1894)
An English grammar and analysis for students and young teachers. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Sweet, Henry
(
1892/1898)
A New English Grammar: logical and historical. 2 Vols. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Thring, Rev. Edward
(
1851)
The Elements of Grammar Taught in English. Cambridge.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
White, Frederick Averne
(
1882)
English Grammar. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Williams, David
(
1818)
The catechism of English grammar, containing the principles of the language, and rules and directions for speaking and writing it with propriety and accuracy. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Wiseman, Thomas John
(
1846)
A School Grammar of the English Language. Dublin.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Other grammar books
Harris, James
(
1751)
Hermes, or a Philosophical Inquiry Concerning Language and Universal Grammar. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Johnson, Samuel
(
1755)
A Dictionary of the English Language. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Lowth, Robert
(
1762)
A Short Introduction to English Grammar with Critical Notes. London.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Murray, Lindley
(
1795)
English Grammar Adapted to the Different Classes of Learners. […]. York.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Sweet, Henry
(
1892)
Short English Historical Grammar. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Cited by
Cited by 2 other publications
WIEMANN, MARCO
2023.
Representations of phonological changes ingoatand /r/ in theCollection of Nineteenth-century Grammars(CNG).
English Language and Linguistics 27:3
► pp. 591 ff.
![DOI logo](//benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
Yáñez-Bouza, Nuria
2022.
Methodological approaches to the study of codification, prescription, and prescriptivism.
Studia Neophilologica 94:3
► pp. 334 ff.
![DOI logo](//benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 26 june 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers.
Any errors therein should be reported to them.