Discipline, dilemmas, decisions and data distribution in the planning and compilation of monolingual dictionaries

CITATION: Gouws, R. H. 2006. Discipline, dilemmas, decisions and data distribution in the planning and compilation of monolingual dictionaries. Lexikos, 16:84-94, doi:10.5788/16-0-649.The original publication is available at http://lexikos.journals.ac.zaBilingual dictionaries play an important role in the standardisation of a language and are often the first dictionary type to be compiled for a given speech community. However, this may never lead to an underestimation of the role and importance of monolingual descriptive dictionaries in the early lexicographic development of a language. In the planning of first descriptive dictionaries the choice of the proper subtype and a consistent application of theoretical principles should be regarded as of extreme importance. Even the compilation of a restricted descriptive dictionary should be done according to similar theoretical principles as those applying to comprehensive dictionaries. This contribution indicates a number of dilemmas confronting the lexicographer during the compilation of restricted monolingual descriptive dictionaries. Attention is given to the role of lexicographic functions and the choice and presentation of lexicographic data, with special reference to the presentation of certain types of polysemous senses which are subjected to frequency of use restrictions. Emphasis is placed on the value of a heterogeneous article structure and a micro-architecture in the articles of restricted dictionaries.Dissipline, dilemmas, besluite en dataverspreiding in die beplanning en samestelling van eentalige woordeboeke. Tweetalige woordeboeke speel 'n belangrike rol in die standaardisering van taal en is dikwels die eerste woordeboektipe wat vir 'n bepaalde taalgemeenskap saamgestel word. Dit mag egter nie tot 'n geringskatting lei van die rol en waarde van eentalige verklarende woordeboeke in die vroeë leksikografiese ontwikkeling van 'n taal nie. Van belang in die samestelling van eerste eentalige verklarende woordeboeke is die keuse van 'n korrekte subtipe en 'n konsekwente toepassing van gesonde teoretiese beginsels in die beplanning van die woordeboek. Selfs in die samestelling van 'n beperkte verklarende woordeboek moet die beplanning volgens soortgelyke teoretiese beginsels gedoen word as wat die geval is in die samestelling van 'n omvattende woordeboek. Hierdie bydrae wys op 'n aantal dilemmas waar-mee die leksikograaf gekonfronteer word in die samestelling van 'n beperkte eentalige verklarende woordeboek. Aandag word gegee aan die rol van leksikografiese funksies, die keuse en aanbod van leksikografiese data met spesifieke verwysing na die aanbieding van sekere tipes betekenis-onderskeidinge wat aan gebruiksfrekwensiebeperkinge onderhewig is. Die waarde van 'n hetero-gene artikelstruktuur en 'n mikro-argitektuur in die artikels van beperkte woordeboeke word beklemtoon.http://lexikos.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/649ArticlePublisher's versio

Situating A Dictionary of South African English on Historical Principles within a More Comprehensive Lexicographic Process

South African English can be regarded as a fully-fledged variety of English which qualifies for comprehensive lexicographic treatment. This paper focuses on the presentation and treatment of South African English in A Dictionary of South African English on Historical Principles. The structure of this dictionary as a carrier of texts and the way in which the editors adhere to current meta lexicographic guidelines are discussed. This paper also situates the dictionary and its contribution within the broader South African lexicographic endeavour. Reference is made to other South African dictionaries in order to identify the position of this dictionary within the South African dictionary family.Keywords: back matier, carrier of texls, central list, frame structure, front matier, historical dictionary, lexicography, soulh african english, structural componenl

Equivalent relations, context and cotext in bilingual dictionaries

Users of bilingual dictionaries often have problems to choose the correct translation equivalent for a given occurrence of the source language form. This could be due to a lack of entries indicating the relevant context and cotext of the translation equivalents. This paper deals with different types of equivalent relations in bilingual dictionaries and the varying need for entries to support the translation equivalents. It is argued that where a relation of semantic divergence prevails the inclusion of context and cotext entries are of extreme importance. The function of a dictionary should determine the nature and extent of the supporting entries. Lexicographers should be well aware of the additional need for context and cotext entries in the treatment of synsemantic words. Consequently they have to negotiate the problems resulting from under addressing, over addressing and zero addressing. It is suggested that procedures of addressing equivalence can help to ensure equivalent discrimination

Op pad na 'n omvattende woordeboekkultuur in die digitale era

Towards a Comprehensive Dictionary Culture in the Digital Era. Following a brief introduction this paper offers a discussion of certain aspects of the development of theoretical lexicography. Specific attention is drawn to among others different phases in this development, provision that has to be made for the use of different lexicographic tools and also the user-perspective. The main focus of this contribution is on the development of a comprehensive dictionary culture that unites the traditional division between user-friendliness and dictionary culture in one encompassing comprehensive dictionary culture. A bidirectional relation between society and lexicography is discussed and it is indicated that certain adaptations need to be made in order to improve the comprehensive dictionary culture. This includes both lexicographic and extra-lexicographic adaptations. The distinction between a collective and an individual compre-hensive dictionary culture is discussed and it is suggested that dictionary culture should not be a separate main component of dictionary research but should rather be integrated into all four exist-ing main components. Many potential dictionary users within the digital era belong to Generation Z. Some features of this generation are briefly discussed. The need is indicated for an adaptation in lexicography that could motivate this generation to use dictionaries. It is argued that dictionary didactics should play an important role in establishing a comprehensive dictionary culture within Generation Z. This dictionary culture should also be directed at other reference sources.Keywords: Comprehensive Dictionary Culture, Dictionary Culture, Dic-Tionary Didactics, Dictionary Research, Digital Era, Extra-Lexicographic Aspects, Generation Z, Lexicographic Tools, Metalexicography, Online Dic-Tionaries, Types Of Users, User-Friendliness

What is Lexicography?

Within the field of lexicography there are numerous differences when it comes to the interpretation of the term lexicography and differences in determining the nature, extent and scope of this term. Although it is widely accepted that lexicography consist of two components, i.e. theoretical lexicography and the lexicographic practice, different definitions of lexicography give no unambiguous reflection of this distinction and of the individual components. This paper looks at some prevailing diverse uses and interpretations of the word lexicography. This is followed by proposals to ensure a transformative, unified and comprehensive interpretation of this concept. Keywords: Independent Discipline, Information Tool, Lexicographer, Lexicographic Practice, Lexicographic Theory, Lexicographic Tool, Lexicography, Lexicology, Metalexicography, Scientific Lexicography, Terminograph

How to do language policy with dictionaries

The lexicographical presentation of terms from the field of language planning often lacks clear and unambiguous distinction and proper explanation. Too often dictionaries even fail to include these terms in the lemma list, and some central terms have not been treated in any general or special purpose dictionary. This article utilises results from research in the field of language policy to make suggestions for the lexicographical presentation and treatment of a number of relevant terms. The emphasis on a distinction between language policy as applied to the intralingual and the interlingual level and the motivation for the introduction of the notion of a communication policy should help lexicographers to give a more comprehensive account of terms from this field and it will also benefit scholars in the field of language policy. A second aspect of this article is the discussion of ways in which dictionaries participate in the implementation of language policy. It is indicated that lexicographers make ever so many decisions of a language political nature. In this regard the lexicographical influence of issues like linguistic hegemony and language purism are discussed. Suggestions are also made for future lexicographical procedures. Keywords: communication policy, interlingual, intralingual, language planning, language policy, language promotion, lexicography, linguistic hegemony, prescriptive, puris

The Presentation of Word Formation in General Monolingual Dictionaries

Word formation in the dictionary belongs, at the latest since the contribution of Mugdan (1984), to the topics frequently discussed by lexicographers. Unfortunately the results have not always been satisfactory. This applies both to the formulation of lexicographic theory and to the lexicographic practice because the lexicographic terms have the linguistic terms as point of departure and questions are put as to how these phenomena should be presented in dictionaries. Instead, one should rather ask which information needs dictionary users experience in which types of user situations and then decide where and how items giving word formation can be presented in order to benefit the envisaged target user of a given dictionary. The lexicographic practice is also in an unsatisfactory position with regard to items giving word formation because the typical polyfunctional dictionaries have too many items giving word formation for text reception problems and far too few for text production problems or for the real general knowledge needs regarding word formation in the specific language. This paper gives suggestions regarding the theoretical approaches that could lead to a better user-directed  lexicographic practice.Keywords:  Afrikaans dictionaries, cognitive function, complex form, compound, derivative, dictionary function, electronic dictionaries, text production, text reception, user needs, word formatio

A lexicographic approach to language policy and recommendations for future dictionaries

CITATION: Tarp, S. & Gouws, R. H. 2008. A lexicographic approach to language policy and recommendations for future dictionaries. Lexikos, 18:232-255, doi:10.5788/18-0-486.The original publication is available at http://lexikos.journals.ac.zaLanguage policy prevails at different levels and its formulation typically results in a prescriptive presentation of data. In their dictionaries, lexicographers have to respond to the decisions of language policy makers. In this regard dictionaries can adhere to a strict prescriptive policy by including only the prescribed forms. Dictionaries can also give a descriptive account of language use without making any recommendations or claims of correctness. Thirdly, dictionaries can be prescriptive by recommending certain forms, even if such a recommendation goes against the prescribed forms. This article offers an overview of different levels of language policy and the principles of prescription, description and proscription. Examples are given to illustrate certain lexicographic applications of prescription. It is emphasised that access to relevant data is important to dictionary users. Consequently the lexicographic application of proscription is discussed as a viable alternative to prescription. It is suggested that proscription, in its different possible applications, can lead to a lexicographic presentation that benefits the user and that contributes to the satisfaction of the functions of a given dictionary.http://lexikos.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/486Publisher's versio

How to do language policy with dictionaries

The original publication is available at http://lexikos.journals.ac.za/pub/indexThe lexicographical presentation of terms from the field of language planning often lacks clear and unambiguous distinction and proper explanation. Too often dictionaries even fail to include these terms in the lemma list, and some central terms have not been treated in any general or special purpose dictionary. This article utilises results from research in the field of language policy to make suggestions for the lexicographical presentation and treatment of a number of relevant terms. The emphasis on a distinction between language policy as applied to the intralingual and the interlingual level and the motivation for the introduction of the notion of a communication policy should help lexicographers to give a more comprehensive account of terms from this field and it will also benefit scholars in the field of language policy. A second aspect of this article is the discussion of ways in which dictionaries participate in the implementation of language policy. It is indicated that lexicographers make ever so many decisions of a language political nature. In this regard the lexicographical influence of issues like linguistic hegemony and language purism are discussed. Suggestions are also made for future lexicographical procedures.Publishers' Versio

A new step forward for South African learners\' lexicography: The Oxford Afrikaans-Engels/English-Afrikaans Skoolwoordeboek/School Dictionary

No Abstract.Journal for Language Teaching vol Vol. 42 (1) 2008: pp. 65-8