The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Scholar’s work helps Forfar’s case as Scots dictionary’s birthplace
Library displays book on how John Jamieson created his 1808 dictionary
An Angus town’s status as the birthplace of Scotland’s first dictionary of its own language has been reaffirmed.
The two-volume Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language was published in 1808, based on the Rev John Jamieson’s belief that Scots was a Gothic language, rather than a dialect of English.
A study by Glasgow University lexicographer Susan Rennie showed Jamieson carried out most of his work on the collection while he was a minister at Forfar.
The costly, out-of-print Jamieson’s Dictionary of Scots: The Story of the First Historical Dictionary of the Scots Language can now be viewed at Forfar Library, after a presentation by Forfar Community Council.
The donation follows the impression that “little has been done” to highlight the town’s role in a work that inspired the Oxford English Dictionary.
Community council chairman Ian Whyte said: “The tagline for Angus is ‘Scotland’s Birthplace’ and Forfar can rightly claim to be the birthplace of Scotland’s first dictionary. Jamieson’s dissertation supported a theory on the Pictish influence on the Scots language and his collection drew on folklore as well as local and regional dialects.
“We still use many of the words contained in his dictionary, while others will be a source of interest and amusement. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to donate a copy of Rennie’s research to the library and hope their visitors will enjoy reading it.”
Local historian Norman Atkinson, OBE, said he is “delighted” by work to consolidate Jamieson’s local links. He added: “What is less well known is that when he added two supplements in 1825 he also relied heavily on Forfar material.
“There are many more references to Angus material he discovered after 1808, so he clearly kept tabs on the area, possibly with a view to a new edition.”
Sent from his native Glasgow to minister in the Secession kirk of Forfar for 16 years, a young Jamieson found his ministry “bleak” before finding lifelong friendship with George Dempster, the architect of Letham, and marrying a local woman.