Linguistic Institute 2017 Course Lexicography Dictionary Structure Dr Helene Schmolz University of Passau, Germany [email protected] Overview 1. Parts of a dictionary 2. Further aspects of dictionary structure 3. Organization of the word list 3.1 Homonyms and polysemes 3.2 Alphabetical and thematic ordering 3.3 Niching and nesting 3.4 Multi-word lemmas 3.5 Information complementing entries 4. Organization of an entry 4.1 Structural elements 4.2 Textual condensation Sources 1. Dictionary structure --introductionintroduction Using a dictionary needs competence: ◦ Reference competence ◦ General dictionary competence ◦ Specific dictionary competence Source: http://clipart-library.com/dictionary-cliparts.html 1. Dictionary structure --introductionintroduction Which parts of dictionaries can you identify? Think or have a look at print dictionaries. What is the most important part of a dictionary? headword/ entry lemma headword/ lemma entry 1. Parts ofof a dictionary Megastructure entire structure of the main components of a dictionary: o outside matter: front & back matter (sometimes also middle matter) o body or word list Macrostructure organisation of the word list, i.e. lemmas/headwords (such as alphabetical order) Microstructure order of information in each entry 1. Parts ofof a dictionary Mega- structure Macro- structure Micro- Micro- Micro- structure structure structure From: Klotz & Herbst (2016: 39) 2. Further aspects ofof dictionary structure Distribution structure ◦ where lexical information can be found (e.g. in an entry or outside the body) Cross-reference structure ◦ directs users to related kinds of information (such as referring to synonym/antonym entries) Access structure ◦ directs users to the information they are looking for ◦ two types: outer access structure: which lemma?; e.g. running heads inner access structure: which information of the lemma? e.g. font variants, colours, numerals or letters, punctuation marks 2. Further aspects ofof dictionary structurestructure:: Example OALD Cross-reference structure 2. Further aspects ofof dictionary structurestructure:: Example OALD Outer access structure Outer access structure 2. Further aspects ofof dictionary structurestructure:: Example OALD Inner access structure Inner access structure Inner access structure RevisitedRevisited:: Parts ofof a dictionary Megastructure entire structure of the main components of a dictionary: o outside matter: front & back matter (sometimes also middle matter) o body or word list Macrostructure organisation of the word list, i.e. lemmas/headwords (such as alphabetical order) Microstructure order of information in each entry 3. Organization ofof the word list What should be represented as one lemma or one entry? ◦ Word forms? ◦ Homonyms and polysemes? How should lemmas be ordered? ◦ Alphabetic and thematic ordering ◦ Compounds, derived words → niching and nesting ◦ phrasal expressions, idioms → multi-word lemmas Information complementing entries 3.1 Homonyms and polysemes Why do we consider foot – foot as polysemes and bank – bank as homonyms? Distinction of homonym/polyseme based on two considerations: ◦ Historical: same or different historical origin ◦ Speaker-psychological: relatedness of meaning or no relatedness (only perception of native speaker) 3.1 Homonyms and polysemes Historical consideration: Same gift ‘present’ From Old Norse gipt historical origin gift ‘talent Different case ‘situation’ From Old French cas historical origin case ‘container’ From Old French casse Speaker-psychological: branch ‘of tree’ Related branch ‘of company’ trunk ‘chest’ Not related trunk ‘of elephant’ 3.1 Homonyms and polysemes Approach of dictionaries varies Example “ditch” ditch /d ɪtʃ / ° noun a long channel dug at theside of a field or road… ° verb …to get rid of sth/sb because you no longer want or need them… ditch 1 /d ɪtʃ / noun a long channel dug at the side of a field or road… ditch 2 verb …to get rid of sth/sb because you no longer want or need them… From: Klotz & Herbst (2016: 41) 3.2 Alphabetical and thematic ordering Semasiological (by form) vs. onomasiological (by meaning) ordering Reverse dictionaries: ◦ Initial-alphabetical vs. final-alphabetical ordering (e.g. Backwords Dictionary) ◦ ‘typical’ conceptual dictionary vs. reverse conceptual dictionary → http://reversedictionary.org Morphologically related lemmas and multi-word lemmas as sub-lemmas → niching and nesting 3.3 Niching and nesting Lemmas brought together in one entry Entry then contains sublemma(s) Nesting: the alphabetical order is somehow broken earner … institution … earnest … instituational … earnestly … institutionally … earnestness … institutionalize … earnings … institutionalization … institutionalized … 3.4 MultiMulti--wordword lemmas Multi-word lemmas as sub-lemmas in one entry of their component words Example: throw the baby out with the bathwater To which entry do such multi-word lemmas belong? What are your arguments? → different strategies: ◦ throw , i.e. take the first lexical word ◦ baby, i.e. the first noun ◦ bathwater , i.e. the most characteristic word 3.5 Information complementing entries Sometimes we have independent parts/boxes etc. within or next to entries, such as: ◦ Pictorial illustrations, maps ◦ Statistical charts ◦ Usage boxes From: Longman Dictionary of English Language and Culture, 1998 From Klotz & Herbst (2016: 58, 67) 3.5 Further examples From OALD 2010 4. Organization ofof an entry Task: Try to write a dictionary entry out of the following information on the lemma cycle . → use the OHP transparency The main challenge is to structure it in a good way. The noun cycle is pronounced as /'saɪkl/. It stands for a bicylcle or motorcycle (compare it also to the entries BIKE and BICYCLE). An example for that use is We went for a cycle ride on Sunday. Another sense is that cycle stands for a series of events being repeated many times, such as in the cylce of the seasons . The word cycle can also be used as a verb. It has the same pronunciation as the noun. As a verb, it is especially used in British English with the sense of riding a bicycle, for example , I usually cycle home through the park . 4. Organization ofof an entry One solution offered by the OALD (2010): cycle /'saɪkl/ noun, verb ° noun 1 a bicylcle or motorcycle: We went for a cycle ride on Sunday. → see also BIKE, BICYCLE 2 a series of events being repeated many times : the cylce of the seasons . ° verb (especially BrE) to ride a bicycle: I usually cycle home through the park . 4.1 Structural elements Structured entry through ◦ syntactic properties (e.g. word class divisions) ◦ sense divisions ◦ structural divisors and general layout 4.2 Textual condensation shortening, e.g. no complete sentences, use of “shortcuts” such as abbreviations and symbols leads to information density results in less user-friendliness saves space, but no information is lost 4.2 Textual condensation 8 types: Abbreviation of citations Replacement of text elements by representation (or repetition) symbols Replacement of text elements by indication symbols Use of structure indicators Use of standardized abbreviations Summarized presentation of alternative wordings Omission of text elements Extrapositioning of text elements 4.2 Textual condensation Abbreviation of citations Replacement of text elements by representation (or repetition) symbols e.g. hyphen or tilde Replacement of text elements by indication symbols e.g. vertical stroke, raised dot, stress mark 4.2 Textual condensation Use of structure indicators Use of standardized abbreviations three main types: o general language abbreviations, e.g. sb , sth o abbreviations standardised in linguistic/lexicographic language, e.g. adj. , BrE o abbreviations standardized in the individual dictionary, e.g. T (= transitive verb), U (= uncountable noun) 4.2 Textual condensation Summarized presentation of alternative wordings e.g. brackets, comma, slash Omission of text elements e.g. anything which is missing to form a complete sentence 4.2 Textual condensation Extrapositioning of text elements 4.2 Textual condensation Which types of textual condensation can you find?.