English Pronunciation in the Eighteenth Century

A fascinating and unique study into the work of the eighteenth-century political writer Thomas Spence, which will appeal to historians and linguists alike. Written in 1775, The Grand Repository was intended to increase literacy amongst the lower classes, and to educate them in the correct pronunciation of the time. This study highlights the importance of pronouncing dictionaries as a resource for the historical phonologist, and provides a valuable addition to the limited body of knowledge on eighteenth-century pronunciation.