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Story: Linguistics

Lexicographers: William Williams

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Lexicographers: William Williams

New Zealand's earliest lexicographer was William Williams, who produced the first English–Māori dictionary in 1844. He is pictured here in the 1870s.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: PA2-1980

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Janet Holmes, Linguistics – Vocabulary studies and applied linguistics, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/43847/lexicographers-william-williams (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Janet Holmes, published 16 December 2013.