Lexikos

Semantisch-lexikographische Aspekte deverbaler -ung-Nominalisierungen: Grundlagen und Beschreibungsmöglichkeiten

Iván Arias-Arias — 2026-05-19

Semantic-Lexicographic Aspects of Deverbal -ung-Nominalizations in German: Theoretical Foundations and Descriptive Possibilities.

Contemporary digital dictionaries exhibit significant shortcomings in the systematic representation of morpho-lexical information. This study uses German deverbal -ung-nominalisations to examine how corpus-based argument structure analyses can improve their lexicographic documentation. Based on a semantically annotated corpus, 200 -ung-nominalisations were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The results lead to two central findings: (a) Regular polysemy: The morphological formation mechanisms explain the systematic polysemy between process (nomen actionis) and result (nomen acti) readings, a relationship whose connection to the -ung affix is not presented in existing monolingual dictionaries; (b) Stable argument structure: The semantic argument structure (of the nomen actionis) is characterised by a stable "minimal program" (the argument for the patient/theme and the argument for the cause of change). The study consequently proposes an optimised model that integrates these explicit argument structure patterns and their semantic functions. This systematic approach is crucial for advanced learners of German (DaF), as it enables the productive formation of nominalisations. The work thus demonstrates that a systematic morpho-lexical presentation addresses the growing need for structured digital lexicography and supports foreign language acquisition.

Keywords: deverbal nouns, -ung-nominalisations, argument structure, digital lexicography, users' needs, corpus-based methods, regular polysemy

Word-Class Labeling in the New Chinese–Vietnamese Dictionary: A Data-Based Approach

Ni Gong — 2026-05-27

Word-class labeling, which significantly affects the quality and practical value of dictionaries, has remained a persistent challenge in Chinese–foreign language lexicography. Grounded in quantum thinking and transdisciplinary methodology, this study applies the Two-Level Lexical Categorization Theory to systematically examine the word-class labeling in the New Chinese–Vietnamese Dictionary. Drawing on a self-built database and corpus-based usage survey, the study evaluates the current labeling practices, explores the underlying reasons for the problems, and proposes strategies for improvement. The study reveals that while the typical class membership of the entries is accurately labeled, there are still notable defects: (1) mistakenly recognizing non-word morphemes as lexical entries; (2) artificially minimizing the number of heterosemous entries and failing to capture the true usage of Modern Chinese entries contained in the dictionary. These problems may partially stem from certain biased conceptions of Modern Chinese word classes, and the misapplication of the "Principle of Parsimony/Simplicity" under the constraints of scientism/Newtonian thinking. To address these issues, this paper argues that the New Chinese–Vietnamese Dictionary and other Chinese–foreign language dictionaries should abandon the "Principle of Parsimony/Simplicity" in word-class labeling, adopt corpus-based evidence to reflect actual Modern Chinese usage, and thereby enhance dictionary reliability and usability for learners and translators.

Keywords: Chinese–foreign language dictionary, New Chinese–Vietnamese Dictionary, word-class labeling, heterosemous entries, corpus-based, quantum thinking

The Reception of the Dictionaries Compiled by the ALLEX Project and ALRI

Eventhough Ndlovu — 2026-04-15

This article examines the reception of the African Languages Lexical (ALLEX) Project and the African Languages Research Institute's (ALRI) dictionaries by the target users. It assesses the target users' ownership, awareness, knowledge, and use of the dictionaries. Thus, the study seeks to gauge the dictionary culture of the primary target users of the dictionaries under study. The findings of the study demonstrate that since the publication of the dictionaries, the dictionary culture of the target users has not changed much. Most of the target users do not own the dictionaries and do not use them. The dictionaries are also not prescribed as key reference materials or tools in the basic education sector or as tools of the trade for language mediators in courts, parliament, or media. There is also no curriculum for the teaching of dictionary skills and imparting dictionary culture in the Zimbabwean basic education system. The findings of this study further highlight the prevailing misconception that in African speech communities, dictionary assistance is not required in one's mother tongue.

Keywords: reception, ALLEX, ALRI, dictionary, University of Zimbabwe, sales records, dictionary culture, dictionary pedagogy, educational policy on dictionaries, ownership

Usage Qualifiers and Their Lexicographic Significance — Examples from the Dictionary of the Montenegrin National and Literary Language

Danijela Radojević — 2026-04-15

This paper addresses a key component of every descriptive dictionary — lexicographic qualifiers, with a particular focus on one of their types, namely usage qualifiers. The analysis draws on examples from the first volume of the Dictionary of the Montenegrin National and Literary Language. It considers both normative and functional-stylistic qualifiers, which are essential elements of lexicographic description. Their significance is highlighted in both the standardization of the lexicon and its functional-stylistic stratification. By providing explanations and illustrative examples, this paper emphasizes the importance of usage qualifiers for an accurate understanding of the semantic content of lexemes in a broader context, as well as their communicative value and pragmatic relevance. Moreover, the paper points out the inherent susceptibility of usage qualifiers to change (which reflects the dynamic nature of the lexicon and language changes in general), thereby highlighting the need to establish general principles and criteria for their more consistent use in descriptive dictionaries. Some characteristic examples of the use of qualifiers have also been examined comparatively, in relation to their treatment in other dictionaries from the formerly shared Serbo-Croatian linguistic area. Attention is likewise drawn to the challenges lexicographers face in marking and classifying lexical items, as well as to possible approaches to overcoming these issues.

Keywords: usage qualifiers, lexicography, lexeme, lexicon, lexicographic description, descriptive dictionaries, functional-stylistic qualifiers, normative qualifiers, context, pragmatics

Pedro A. Fuertes-Olivera. A Guide to Practical Online Lexicography.

Dai Lingzhen — 2026-05-19

Review of Pedro A. Fuertes-Olivera. A Guide to Practical Online Lexicography.

Annette Klosa-Kückelhaus and Martina Nied Curcio (Eds.). Dictionary Use and Dictionary Teaching. New Challenges in a Multilingual, Digital and Global World.

Jian Zhou — 2026-04-15

Review of Annette Klosa-Kückelhaus and Martina Nied Curcio (Eds.). Dictionary Use and Dictionary Teaching. New Challenges in a Multilingual, Digital and Global World.