Today, English holds the role of a lingua franca or language of business and commerce that breaks down geographical boundaries. It is the main language that drives the wheels of international trade, high-level diplomacy, and intercontinental technology exchange. However, the global dominance in this language did not just happen.
History owes a great deal to the genius of Dr. Samuel Johnson. In the 18th century, he took the bold step of dedicating nine years of his life to compiling the first comprehensive English dictionary. At a time when language was still scattered and had no standard rules, Dr. Johnson was present to dictate standardization. His masterpiece provides a definitive structure, making English a very powerful intellectual communication instrument ready to be used by the world.
A Dictionary of the English Language by Dr Samuel Johnson published on April 15, 1755 was the first modern English dictionary that was the most influential and established standards of spelling, grammar, and definition. Dr. Samuel Johnson’s dictionary was also the standard English language for more than 150 years before the Oxford English Dictionary.
A Dictionary of the English Language also shows some of the innovations of Dr. Samuel Johnson:
Characteristics: This dictionary introduces quotes from prominent authors such as William Shakespeare, Milton to show the use of words in context, as well as to distinguish the nuances of numbered meanings.
Subjective Definition: Johnson sometimes included his personal opinions in the definition. A famous example, he defined oats as “food given in England to horses and in Scotland to humans”.
A Dictionary of the English Language can be accessed online through Johnson’s Dictionary Online and makes Johnson one of the greatest literary figures of the 18th century.
Dr. Samuel Johnson himself was a writer, critic and lexicographer who contributed through poetry, essays and biographies. Living from 1709 to 1784, Dr. Samuel Johnson was the second most-quoted Englishman, known for his moral integrity and immense knowledge.
Johnson worked as a teacher early in his life, before moving to London to become a writer. In London, is writing for The Gentleman’s Magazine and his main works are:
– Published the poem London (1738)
– Published a biography Life of Mr Richard Savage (1744)
– Wrote a poetry The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749)
– Published the philosophical novel Rasselas (1759)
– Published an edition of The Plays of William Shakespeare (1765)
At the end of his life, Dr Samuel Johnson, who was known as a man of good humour and good conversational and melancholy, received a pension from the government and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
One of the interesting things is, in that era is forming The Club with Joshua Reynolds, Oliver Goldsmith and Edmund Burke, which can be an inspiration for entrepreneurs, especially those who run family businesses to continue to grow sustainably. Often, the biggest obstacle in succession is not the lack of capital, but the absence of lingua franca within the family.
The founding generation and the next generation often speak a different “language” of vision. This is where a leader’s job is to be the “Dr. Johnson” of his own company: to formulate a dictionary of values, visions, and conflict resolution standards that are universally understood by all family members. Having one unifying language is an absolute requirement to ensure a company’s legacy remains upright through the changing times.
Have you compiled a “dictionary” of unifying values to oversee the generational transition in your company? If this perspective matters to your business or worldview, dive deeper into KVB.global for grounded insights on circular thinking, global shifts, and responsible leadership. Share this with your network and follow Kultur Voice Business or KVB to stay informed on what truly shapes our future.
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