Search Results - Whiter, Walter

Walter Whiter

The Reverend Walter Whiter (30 October 1758 in Birmingham, England– 23 July 1832 in Hardingham) was an English philologist and literary critic. He is known for his 1794 work ''A Specimen of a Commentary on Shakspeare''. ''Specimen'', which explored ''As You Like It'' in terms of John Locke's philosophy of associationism, has been described as the first work of literary criticism to use scientific psychology.

In addition to his literary criticism, Whiter published his etymological research, first as ''Etymologicon Magnum'' in 1800, then as ''Etymologicon Universale'' in 1822 (vol. 1 and 2) and 1825 (vol. 3); August Baron Merian, a correspondent of Samuel Butler, stated that he "pit(ied)" Whiter, and described him as "(a) great etymologist—perhaps the greatest that ever lived. A genius certainly; but it seems, like most eminent artists, dissolute."

Whiter's linguistic studies—in particular, his research into the language used by Gypsies—led him to be cited as a role model by George Borrow, to the extent that Whiter appears in Borrow's ''Lavengro'' as "Reverend Whiter the philologist". The book includes a song about his character, which goes as follows:

For several decades, Whiter's notes on the vocabulary of Romani were thought to have been lost, but were rediscovered and published in 1909 as ''Whiter's 'Lingua Cingariana'''. Provided by Wikipedia