description William Rothwell Overview
William Rothwell was a prominent British academic, lexicographer, and scholar of medieval French who specialized in the study of Anglo-Norman, the dialect of Old French used in England after the Norman Conquest. He is best known for founding and editing the Anglo-Norman Dictionary, the first edition of which was published in phases from 1977 to 1992. His extensive lexicographical research demonstrated the significant influence of Anglo-Norman on the development of the English language. He spent much of his academic career at the University of Wales, contributing to the modern understanding of historical linguistics in Britain.
insights Ranking position
William Rothwell ranks #134 of 330 in the Lexicographer ranking, behind James Curtis Hepburn, ahead of Anne Curzan.
help William Rothwell FAQ
What did William Rothwell contribute to the Anglo-Norman Dictionary?
Rothwell was a leading editor of the dictionary's first edition, published in installments between 1977 and 1992. The project documents the French used in medieval Britain rather than treating it as merely defective continental French.
What is Anglo-Norman French?
Anglo-Norman was the form of French used in medieval England and other parts of the British Isles after the Norman Conquest. It appears in legal, administrative, literary, commercial, and scientific texts.
Why did Rothwell challenge the term "Law French"?
Rothwell's scholarship showed that Anglo-Norman vocabulary survives across far more subjects than law alone. The Anglo-Norman Dictionary draws evidence from diverse medieval texts, revealing a language used in many areas of British life.
Is Rothwell's first-edition dictionary still used?
Yes, the first edition remains an important landmark in Anglo-Norman lexicography. The online Anglo-Norman Dictionary has since expanded and revised the evidence available to researchers.
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