Richard Coates
Encyclopedia
Richard Coates is an English linguist. He is professor
of linguistics
(alternatively professor of onomastics
) at the University of the West of England
in Bristol
. He was formerly (1991–2006) professor of linguistics at the University of Sussex
, where he served as Dean of the School of Cognitive and Computing Sciences from 1998 to 2003. He has been honorary director of the Survey of English Place-Names since 2003, having previously (1997–2002) served as president of the English Place-Name Society
which conducts the Survey. From 2002 to 2008, he was secretary of the International Council of Onomastic Sciences
, a body devoted to the promotion of the study of names. He was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
in 1992 and of the Royal Society of Arts
in 2001.
His main academic interests are proper names (from both the historical and the theoretical perspective), historical linguistics
in general, the philology
of northern and western European languages, regional variation in language, and local history
. He is editor of the Survey of English Place-Names for Hampshire
and principal investigator of the AHRC-funded project Family Names of the United Kingdom (FaNUK), of which Patrick Hanks
is lead researcher.
He has written books on the names of the Channel Islands
, the local place-names of St Kilda
, Hampshire
and Sussex
, the dialect of Sussex, and, with Andrew Breeze, on Celtic place-names in England, as well as over 350 academic articles, notes, and collections on related topics. Some years ago, he introduced a new etymology of the name London. He derived it from the pre-Celtic Old European
*(p)lowonidā, meaning 'boat river' or 'swim river', i.e. 'river too wide or deep to ford', and suggested that this was a name given to the part of the River Thames
which flows through London; from this, the settlement gained the Celtic form of its name, *Lowonidonjon, by suffixation.
He is also the author of Word Structure, a students' introduction to linguistic morphology
, and of online resources on Shakespeare's character-names and place-names of Hayling Island
.
Coates has often been cited as a lookalike of former The Velvet Underground
singer Lou Reed
, whom he shares a striking resemblance with.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of linguistics
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....
(alternatively professor of onomastics
Onomastics
Onomastics or onomatology is the study of proper names of all kinds and the origins of names. The words are from the Greek: "ὀνομαστικός" , "of or belonging to naming" and "ὀνοματολογία" , from "ὄνομα" "name". Toponymy or toponomastics, the study of place names, is one of the principal branches of...
) at the University of the West of England
University of the West of England
The University of the West of England is a university based in the English city of Bristol. Its main campus is at Frenchay, about five miles north of the city centre...
in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. He was formerly (1991–2006) professor of linguistics at the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
, where he served as Dean of the School of Cognitive and Computing Sciences from 1998 to 2003. He has been honorary director of the Survey of English Place-Names since 2003, having previously (1997–2002) served as president of the English Place-Name Society
English Place-Name Society
The English Place-Name Society is a learned society concerned with toponomastics and the toponymy of England, in other words, the study of place-names ....
which conducts the Survey. From 2002 to 2008, he was secretary of the International Council of Onomastic Sciences
International Council of Onomastic Sciences
The International Council of Onomastic Sciences is an international academic organization of scholars with a special interest in onomastics, the scientific study of names The International Council of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS) is an international academic organization of scholars with a special...
, a body devoted to the promotion of the study of names. He was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
in 1992 and of the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
in 2001.
His main academic interests are proper names (from both the historical and the theoretical perspective), historical linguistics
Historical linguistics
Historical linguistics is the study of language change. It has five main concerns:* to describe and account for observed changes in particular languages...
in general, the philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
of northern and western European languages, regional variation in language, and local history
Local history
Local history is the study of history in a geographically local context and it often concentrates on the local community. It incorporates cultural and social aspects of history...
. He is editor of the Survey of English Place-Names for Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
and principal investigator of the AHRC-funded project Family Names of the United Kingdom (FaNUK), of which Patrick Hanks
Patrick Hanks
Patrick Hanks is an English lexicographer and corpus linguist. He has edited dictionaries of general language, as well as dictionaries of personal names. After graduation from University College, Oxford, he started his lexicographic career as editor of the Hamlyn Encyclopedic World Dictionary . In...
is lead researcher.
He has written books on the names of the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, the local place-names of St Kilda
St Kilda, Scotland
St Kilda is an isolated archipelago west-northwest of North Uist in the North Atlantic Ocean. It contains the westernmost islands of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The largest island is Hirta, whose sea cliffs are the highest in the United Kingdom and three other islands , were also used for...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
and Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, the dialect of Sussex, and, with Andrew Breeze, on Celtic place-names in England, as well as over 350 academic articles, notes, and collections on related topics. Some years ago, he introduced a new etymology of the name London. He derived it from the pre-Celtic Old European
Old European hydronymy
Old European is the term used by Hans Krahe for the language of the oldest reconstructed stratum of European hydronymy in Central and Western Europe...
*(p)lowonidā, meaning 'boat river' or 'swim river', i.e. 'river too wide or deep to ford', and suggested that this was a name given to the part of the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
which flows through London; from this, the settlement gained the Celtic form of its name, *Lowonidonjon, by suffixation.
He is also the author of Word Structure, a students' introduction to linguistic morphology
Morphology (linguistics)
In linguistics, morphology is the identification, analysis and description, in a language, of the structure of morphemes and other linguistic units, such as words, affixes, parts of speech, intonation/stress, or implied context...
, and of online resources on Shakespeare's character-names and place-names of Hayling Island
Hayling Island
-Leisure activities:Although largely residential, Hayling is also a holiday, windsurfing and sailing centre, the site where windsurfing was invented....
.
Coates has often been cited as a lookalike of former The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
singer Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, whom he shares a striking resemblance with.
External links
- University of the West of England: Richard Coates, where a list of his main and recent publications can be found.