James Platt Junior's Contributions to Old English Grammar ¹

Abstract In 1883, Henry Sweet took issue with James Platt junior, a 21‐year‐old language enthusiast. At the time, Platt was England's brightest young prospect in Old English linguistic studies. Sweet recognised Platt's talent, but he became convinced that he was also a plagiarist and tried to have him expelled from the Philological Society. Yet Sweet blew out of all proportion mistakes that were largely the result of Platt's lack of experience. In fact, Platt made several original and influential discoveries of his own that were never properly accredited to him. Furthermore, numerous corrections and improvements to the second edition of Eduard Sievers' Old English grammar (1886) are owed to Platt, yet Sievers failed to acknowledge his assistance in the grammar. This article offers a late appreciation of Platt's work on Old English and shows that he made important discoveries as an amateur philologist.