John Samuel Kenyon
Encyclopedia
John Samuel Kenyon was an American
linguist
.
Born in Medina, Ohio
, he graduated from Hiram College
in 1898 and taught there as a professor of English from 1916 to 1944, when he retired and became an emeritus
professor until his death. Together with Thomas A. Knott, he wrote A Pronouncing Dictionary of American English
(1944), still regarded as a classic guide to American English
pronunciation. Kenyon had also earlier published American Pronunciation (1924) and served as the consulting editor of pronunciation
to the second edition of Webster's New International Dictionary
in his career as a pioneering expert on the study of American English, which earned him the epithet
"the dean of American phoneticians".
A Pronouncing Dictionary of American English, with Thomas A. Knott (1944/1953) "KK", Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
linguist
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
.
Born in Medina, Ohio
Medina, Ohio
In the city the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males...
, he graduated from Hiram College
Hiram College
Hiram College is a private liberal arts college located in Hiram, Ohio. Founded by Amos Sutton Hayden of the Disciples of Christ Church in 1850, the institution has, since its first days, been nonsectarian and coeducational, and throughout its existence Hiram College has sustained this egalitarian...
in 1898 and taught there as a professor of English from 1916 to 1944, when he retired and became an emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
professor until his death. Together with Thomas A. Knott, he wrote A Pronouncing Dictionary of American English
Kenyon and Knott
Kenyon and Knott is the informal name for A Pronouncing Dictionary of American English, first published by the G. & C. Merriam Company in 1944, and written by John Samuel Kenyon and Thomas A. Knott...
(1944), still regarded as a classic guide to American English
American English
American English is a set of dialects of the English language used mostly in the United States. Approximately two-thirds of the world's native speakers of English live in the United States....
pronunciation. Kenyon had also earlier published American Pronunciation (1924) and served as the consulting editor of pronunciation
Pronunciation
Pronunciation refers to the way a word or a language is spoken, or the manner in which someone utters a word. If one is said to have "correct pronunciation", then it refers to both within a particular dialect....
to the second edition of Webster's New International Dictionary
Webster's Dictionary
Webster's Dictionary refers to the line of dictionaries first developed by Noah Webster in the early 19th century, and also to numerous unrelated dictionaries that added Webster's name just to share his prestige. The term is a genericized trademark in the U.S.A...
in his career as a pioneering expert on the study of American English, which earned him the epithet
Epithet
An epithet or byname is a descriptive term accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It is also a descriptive title...
"the dean of American phoneticians".
Works
American Pronunciation (1924/1950), Tenth Edition, Ann Arbor: George Wahr.A Pronouncing Dictionary of American English, with Thomas A. Knott (1944/1953) "KK", Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.