Lexicology and Lexicography: a Comparative Approach

Abstract

Leksikografska praksa ima dugu i nezavisnu tradiciju, i prethodila je razvoju modernih lingvističkih disciplina, pa i moderne leksikologije. Ta leksikografska tradicija je razvila i oplemenila rječnik do nivoa na kojem je on danas. Rad je zamišljen kao pokušaj da se predstavi, na jednom mjestu, međusobno prožimanje leksikologije i leksikografije, te ukaže na značaj leksi­kologije u leksikografskom radu. Činjenica je da leksikografija ima dugu i nezavisnu tradiciju koja se stoljećima razvijala, nezavisno od modernih lingvističkih disciplina, uključujući i leksikologiju, koja je tek u posljednjih četrdeset godina počela da utječe na leksikografiju.This paper gives an outline of lexicology and lexicography, starting with its historical background and the most prominent features which distinguish it from other disciplines in the English language. Lexicology provides the theoretical basis of lexicography. The lexicographer, who is acquainted with all the semantic features contained within a lexical unit, might at times have to make decisions and include these semantic features in the definition resulting from his own observations. Lexicology relies on semantics and word formation and does not allow for individual aberrations. In lexicography, in spite of the lexicographer’s best intentions, many definitions become subjective, i.e., they are not free from the bias of the dictionary maker. Lexicology deals with the universal features of the words of languages. In this sense, lexicology is not language specific, whereas lexicography is more or less language specific. Its theories have no other validation except for practical applicability in the compilation of a dictionary. Whereas lexicology is more theory oriented, lexicography is more concerned with concrete application (i.e., the results) of these theories. So “in a certain sense, lexicography may be considered a superior discipline to lexicology, for results are more important than intentions, and the value of theoretical principles must be estimated according to results” (Zgusta 1971:36)