what's a dictionary?

from the lecture Lexicography in English Linguistics

1. WHAT IS A DICTIONARY WHAT IS A DICTIONARY??

2. Outline Outline

Dictionaries Dictionariesand andEncyclopedias Encyclopedias

A A Survey Surveyof of Types Typesof of Dictionaries Dictionaries aa
ndnd
Other Other
Language Language
References References
aa
ndnd
Other Other
Language Language
References References

3. Dictionaries DictionariesandandEncyclopedias Encyclopedias

Dictionary Dictionary is a book that lists is a book that lists
words in alphabetic words in alphabetic
order and describes order and describes
their meanings. their meanings.

Encyclopedia Encyclopedia is a collection of is a collection of
articles about every articles about every
branch of knowledge. branch of knowledge.
their meanings. their meanings.

Dictionaries are about Dictionaries are about
words. words.

Encyclopedias are Encyclopedias are
about things. about things.

4. A A Survey Surveyof of Types Typesof of Dictionaries Dictionaries
aandndOther OtherLanguage LanguageReferences References
Dictionaries
Range
Perspective
Presentation

5. Dictionaries differ in … Dictionaries differ in …

The number of languages The number of languages

The manner of financing The manner of financing

The age of users The age of users

The size of dictionaries The size of dictionaries The scope of coverage by The scope of coverage by

The lexical unit The lexical unit

The primary language of The primary language of
the market the market
The period of time The period of time covered covered

The scope of coverage by The scope of coverage by subject subject

Limitations in the aspect Limitations in the aspect
of language covered of language covered
covered covered

The linguistic approach The linguistic approach
chosen chosen
The means of access The means of access

6. The Number of Languages The Number of Languages

Monolingual Dictionary Monolingual Dictionary

Bilingual Dictionary Bilingual Dictionary
Unidirectional (Mono Unidirectional (Mono
--
directional) directional)

Unidirectional (Mono Unidirectional (Mono
--
directional) directional)

i.e. from English to Turkish i.e. from English to Turkish

Bidirectional Bidirectional

i.e. from English to Turkish/Turkish to English i.e. from English to Turkish/Turkish to English

7. Bilingual Dictionary Bilingual Dictionary--11
…includes the following: …includes the following:
It provides a translation for each word in It provides a translation for each word in
the source language. the source language.
Its coverage of the source language Its coverage of the source language

Its coverage of the source language Its coverage of the source language lexicon is complete. lexicon is complete.

Grammatical, syntactic and semantic Grammatical, syntactic and semantic
information is provided. information is provided.

Usage guidance is given. Usage guidance is given.

8. Bilingual Dictionary Bilingual Dictionary--22

It includes special vocabulary items, such It includes special vocabulary items, such
as scientific terms. as scientific terms.

Spelling aids and alternative spellings are Spelling aids and alternative spellings are indicated. indicated. indicated. indicated.

Pronunciation is included. Pronunciation is included.

It is compact in size. It is compact in size.

9. The Manner of Financing The Manner of Financing

Scholarly D Scholarly Dictionaries ictionaries arearefinanced financedbybygovernment governmentororfoundation foundation
grants grants..

Commercial CommercialDictionaries Dictionaries arearesupported supportedbybyprivate privateinvestors investors..

10. TheTheAgeAgeof of Users Users

Child’s Child’s((School School) ) Dictionaries Dictionaries

Elementary ElementarySchool School((grades gradesthree three--eight eight))

Middle MiddleSchool School((grades gradessixsix--ten) ten)

Secondary Secondary
School School
((
grades grades
nine nine
--
twelve twelve
))

Secondary Secondary
School School
((
grades grades
nine nine
--
twelve twelve
))

Adult’s Adult’sDictionaries Dictionaries

11. TheTheSize of Size of Dictionaries Dictionaries

Unabridged UnabridgedDictionaries Dictionaries(400.000 (400.000 toto
600.000words) 600.000words)
College CollegeDictionaries Dictionaries(130.000 (130.000 toto160.000 160.000 words words))

SemiSemi
--
unabridged unabridged
Dictionaries Dictionaries
((
approximately approximately

SemiSemi
--
unabridged unabridged
Dictionaries Dictionaries
((
approximately approximately
260.000 260.000 words words))

DeskDeskDictionaries Dictionaries(60.000 (60.000 toto100.000 100.000 words words))

Pocket Pocket((Paperback Paperback) ) Dictionaries Dictionaries(40.000 (40.000 toto
60.000 60.000 words words))

12. TheTheScopeScopeof of Coverage CoveragebybySubject Subject

Special Special--field fieldDictionaries Dictionaries::

medical medicalandandlegal legal dictionaries dictionaries

dictionaries dictionariesof of military militaryand andnautical nauticalscience science, , etcetc
..
etcetc
..

Subject Subject--field fieldDictionaries Dictionaries::

Dictionaries Dictionariesof of lawlaw, , medicine medicine, , biology biology, ,
electronics electronics, , architecture architecture, , etcetc..

13. Limitations Limitations
in in thethe
Aspect Aspectof of Language LanguageCovered Covered

Special Special--purpose purposeDictionaries Dictionaries
((bybyBarnhart Barnhart))

Etymological EtymologicalDictionaries Dictionaries

Pronunciation PronunciationDictionaries Dictionaries

Synonym Synonym
Dictionaries Dictionaries

Synonym Synonym
Dictionaries Dictionaries

Slang D Slang Dictionaries ictionaries

Dialect DialectDictionaries Dictionaries((Linguistic LinguisticAtlases Atlases))

Neologisims Neologisims((collections collectionsof of new newwordswords))

14.
Etymolog EtymologicalicalDictionaries Dictionaries
::
theytheyarearealphabetic alphabeticlists listsof of words wordsshowing showing
howhowthethecurrent currentform form derived derivedfromfromolder older
onesonesin in thethesame sameororanother anotherlanguage language..

Pronunciation PronunciationDictionaries Dictionaries
::
theythey
provide provide
transcriptions transcriptions
of of
thethe
sounds sounds
theythey
provide provide
transcriptions transcriptions
of of
thethe
sounds sounds
of of speech speechcorresponding correspondingtotoan an alphabetic alphabetic
listlistof of words wordssosothat thatthethereader readermaymay
understand understandhowhoweacheachwordwordis is usually usually
pronounced pronounced..

15.
Synonym SynonymDictionaries Dictionaries
::
TheyTheyhavehaveexisted existedin in English Englishsince since thethelate late
eighteenth eighteenthcentury century. . They Theycontain containthethe
synonyms synonymsof of thethelexicons lexiconsin in one onelanguage language..

Slang SlangDictionaries Dictionaries
::
Slang Slang
is is
defined defined
as as
words words
oror
expressions expressions
Slang Slang
is is
defined defined
as as
words words
oror
expressions expressions
thatthatoriginated originatedin in cant cant((nontechnical nontechnical
vocabulary vocabularyrestricted restrictedtotoa a particular particular
occupation occupation, , age age, , group group, , etcetc.).)

16.
Dialect DialectDictionaries Dictionaries((Linguistic LinguisticAtlases Atlases
):):
They Theyarearesome somekindkindof a of a map mapthethe
geographic geographicdistribution distributionof of uses usesof of
particular particularvocabulary vocabularyitems itemsororfeatures featuresof of
pronunciation pronunciation..

Neologisms Neologisms
((
Collections Collections
of of
newnew
words words
):):

Neologisms Neologisms
((
Collections Collections
of of
newnew
words words
):):
Neologisms Neologismsvaryvaryfromfromnewspaper newspaper
glossaries glossariestotoextensive extensivedictionaries dictionarieswith with
illustrative illustrativequotations quotationsdocumenting documentingeacheach
newnewtermterm..

17. TheTheLexical LexicalUnitUnit

Index Index::
An An index indexis a is a reordering reorderingof of thetheimportant important
words wordsin a in a text textin in alphabetic alphabeticorder ordersosoas as toto
access accesstotoparticular particularparts partsof of thethetext textwhere whereeacheach
word wordis is used used..

Concordance Concordance::
IfIfthetherepeated repeatedwords wordsconstitute constitute
an an exhaustive exhaustivelistlistof of allallthethewords wordsin in thethetext text, , thethe
index indexis is called calleda a concordance concordance..

An An Exegesis Exegesis((Exegetic ExegeticDictionary Dictionary):):
ItItexplains explainsa a
texttext, , such suchas as thetheBible Bible, , bybymeans meansof an of an index indextoto
particular particularwords wordsusedusedin in key keypassages passages..

18. ABBREVIATIONS ABBREVIATIONS

Initialisms Initialisms((Alphabetisms Alphabetisms):):
reflect reflectthetheseparate separate
pronunciation pronunciationof of thetheinitial initialletters lettersof of thetheconstituent constituent
words words..

TV ( TV (television television), EU ( ), EU (European European Union Union), ID ( ), ID (identity identity document document), RSVP ( ), RSVP (reply reply
please please), PTO ( ), PTO (please please turn turn over over), FAQ ( ), FAQ (frequently frequently asked asked questions questions))

Acronyms Acronyms::
arearepronounced pronouncedas as single singlewords words..

NATO, NATO, laser laser

Clippings Clippings
((
clipped clipped
forms forms
):):
reductions reductions
of of
longer longer
forms forms
, ,

Clippings Clippings
((
clipped clipped
forms forms
):):
reductions reductions
of of
longer longer
forms forms
, ,
usually usuallyremoving removingthetheend endof of thetheword word..

Ad ( Ad (advertisement advertisement), ), plane plane ((airplane airplane), ), fluflu ((influenza influenza))

Blends Blends::
combine combinepartpartof of words words..

Sitcom Sitcom ((situational situational comedy comedy), ), bedsit bedsit ((one one room room which which is a is a bedroom bedroom andand a a sitting sitting
room room), ), sci sci--fi (fi (science science fiction fiction))

A A Ghost GhostWord: Word:
ItItis a is a word wordthatthathas has never neverexisted existedin in
actual actualusage usagebut but that thatappears appearsin in dictionaries dictionariesthrough throughthethe
lexicographer’s lexicographer’serror error..

19. TheThePrimary PrimaryLanguage Languageof of thetheMarket Market Monolingual Monolingualdictionaries dictionaries;;

designed designedforforthose thoselearning learningEnglish Englishas a as a
second secondlanguage language(ESL) (ESL)

designed designed
forfor
thethe
native native
speakers speakers

designed designed
forfor
thethe
native native
speakers speakers

20. TheThePeriod Periodof Time of Time Covered Covered

Diachronic Diachronic((Historical Historical) ) Dictionaries Dictionaries:: ......deal dealwithwithan an extended extendedperiod periodof time, of time,
withwiththethepurpose purposeof of tracing tracingthethe
developments developments
of form of form
andand
meanings meanings
of of
developments developments
of form of form
andand
meanings meanings
of of
eacheachheadword headwordoveroverthetheperiod periodcovered covered..

Synchronic SynchronicDictionaries Dictionaries:: ......deal dealwithwitha a narrow narrowbandbandof time of time and and
attempt attempttotorepresent representthethelexicon lexiconas it as it exists exists
ororexisted existedat a at a particular particularpoint pointin time. in time.

21. TheTheLinguistic LinguisticApproach Approach
Chosen Chosen

Descriptive Descriptive

Prescriptive Prescriptive

22. TheTheMeansMeansof Access of Access
Four Fourbasic basicsystems systemsof of classification classificationareare

bybyalphabet alphabet

bybythetheform of form of thetheentry entrywords words((morphemic morphemic))

byby
meaning meaning
((
semantic semantic
))

byby
meaning meaning
((
semantic semantic
))

bybyno no system systemat at allall((haphazard haphazard))