In lexicographic literature, little attention has been paid to small dictionaries, oddly enough, since they are probably the more frequently used. Further, they are not necessarily easier to edit than extensive ones: there is the selection problem, and the size entails constraints on the compilation. This becomes clear when small dictionaries are automatically analysed for conversion to database format. In this article, several aspects of small dictionaries will be discussed on the basis of the author’s experience with the compilation and subsequent conversion of a pocket-size Portuguese-Norwegian- Portuguese dictionary
