description Sarah Ogilvie Overview
Sarah Ogilvie is an Australian lexicographer and former editor on the Oxford English Dictionary. Her 2023 book The Dictionary People examines the history of the OED through the volunteer contributors who supplied quotations and word evidence, showing how the dictionary depended on a large network beyond its paid editorial staff. The work is intended for readers interested in English, lexicography, and the cultural history of reference books.
help Sarah Ogilvie FAQ
What is Sarah Ogilvie's The Dictionary People about?
The Dictionary People is Sarah Ogilvie's 2023 history of the Oxford English Dictionary. It focuses on the volunteer contributors who supplied quotations and word evidence for the dictionary.
Did Sarah Ogilvie work on the Oxford English Dictionary?
Yes, Sarah Ogilvie was an editor on the Oxford English Dictionary before writing about its history. Her experience gives the book an insider perspective on how the OED was built.
Why were volunteers important to the Oxford English Dictionary?
Volunteers searched books and other texts for examples showing how words were used, then sent quotations and evidence to the OED team. The project therefore depended on a large network of contributors, not only on professional lexicographers in Oxford.
Is The Dictionary People mainly about dictionary definitions?
No. Its central subject is the people and working process behind the OED, including the contributors whose quotations helped document English words over time.
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