Chapter 7: Last Words
Michael Proffitt took over as chief editor of the OED late in 2013, having previously spent many years working on the new words that flood into the Dictionary’s offices. In an interview with the New York Times soon after taking on his new role he gave a good insight into the future of the OED saying, “As much as I adhere to the OED’s public reputation, I want proof that it is of value to people in terms of practical use.” He went on to advocate links in digitised literature to OED entries and also to recognise that the distinction between ‘dictionary’ and ‘web search’ is becoming increasingly blurred. Related to this he stated his willingness to license Dictionary data to other companies.
James Murray in the Scriptorium (By Permission of the Secretary to the Delegates of Oxford University Press)
This book was written in 2015, just a century after James Murray’s death. He is buried in the cemetery at Wolvercote where Tolkien is also interred. A remembrance celebration was held there in July of the centennial year led by the lexicographer’s great-grandson, Oswyn Murray. Afterwards a procession made its way to Murray’s Banbury Road house where those present were given a glimpse of the site of the old Scriptorium. Michael Proffitt was quoted as saying: “For those of us working on the Oxford English Dictionary, every day provides an opportunity to marvel at Sir James Murray’s work”.