The Ideology of the Perfect Dictionary: How Efficient Can a Dictionary Be?

  • Michaël Abecassis Department of Modern Languages, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Keywords: LEXICOGRAPHY, LEXICAL ACQUISITION, VOCABULARY, STYLE LABELS, CORPUS/CORPORA, DICTIONARIES, IDEOLOGY, STANDARD, LANGUAGE LEARNING, FRENCH MONOLINGUAL DICTIONARIES, ELECTRONIC DICTIONARIES, CD-ROMS

Abstract

Abstract: Dictionaries have become essential tools of the modern world. Not only have dictionary sales dramatically increased, but the variety of dictionaries and the competition between editors are also very much on the rise. Monolingual dictionaries attract native speakers for several reasons. Some wish to capture the subtleties of their own language, others to speak the 'standard' language, and an 'ideologically' politically correct variety devoid of colloquialisms, hence the crucial role played by style labels. Furthermore, a large number of word enthusiasts enjoy linguistic curiosities, archaisms and other vestiges from the past conserved in dictionaries. Is the concept of a perfect dictionary a reality or an ideal? There is no perfect student. Language learners, for whom dictionaries are of great importance, seek user-friendly material which will improve both their fluency in and understanding of the target language, and embed acquired lexis in their long-term memory. Lexicographers, in their search for perfection and in compliance with users' wishes, are constantly innovating, and every dictionary hopes to become a landmark in lexicography and in second language acquisition. This article aims to look at the way dictionaries have evolved and assess the latest generation of computer-based dictionaries, as well as consider possible developments which will contribute to the compilation of future dictionaries.Keywords: LEXICOGRAPHY, LEXICAL ACQUISITION, VOCABULARY, STYLE LABELS,CORPUS/CORPORA, DICTIONARIES, IDEOLOGY, STANDARD, LANGUAGE LEARNING,FRENCH MONOLINGUAL DICTIONARIES, ELECTRONIC DICTIONARIES, CD-ROMSOpsomming: Die ideologie van die volmaakte woordeboek: Hoe doeltreffendkan 'n woordeboek wees? Woordeboeke het noodsaaklike werktuie van die modernewêreld geword. Nie alleen het woordeboekverkope dramaties vermeerder nie, maar die verskeidenheidwoordeboeke en die wedywering tussen redakteurs is ook aansienlik aan die toeneem.Eentalige woordeboeke trek moedertaalsprekers om verskeie redes aan. Sommige wil die subtiliteitevan hul eie taal bemeester, ander wil die "standaard"-taal en 'n "ideologies" polities korrektevariëteit sonder gemeensame uitdrukkings praat, vandaar die uiters belangrike rol wat styletikettespeel. Daarbenewens hou 'n groot aantal woordentoesiaste van taaleiesoortighede, argaïsmes enander oorblyfsels uit die verlede wat in woordeboeke bewaar word. Is die konsep van 'n volmaaktewoordeboek 'n realiteit of 'n ideaal? Daar is geen volmaakte student nie. Taalaanleerders vir wiewoordeboeke van groot belang is, soek gebruikersvriendelike gegewens wat sowel hul vlotheid inas hul verstaan van die doeltaal sal verbeter, en aangeleerde leksis in hul langtermyngeheue vaslê.Leksikograwe, in hul soeke na volmaaktheid en ooreenkomstig gebruikers se wense, is voortdurendbesig om te vernuwe en elke woordeboek hoop om 'n baken in die leksikografie en tweedetaalverwerwingte word. Hierdie artikel wil kyk na die manier waarop woordeboeke ontwikkel heten die jongste generasie rekenaargebaseerde woordeboeke beoordeel sowel as moontlike ontwikkelingebeskou wat sal bydra tot die samestelling van toekomstige woordeboeke.Sleutelwoorde: LEKSIKOGRAFIE, LEKSIKALE VERWERWING, WOORDESKAT, STYLETIKETTE,KORPUS/KORPUSSE, WOORDEBOEKE, IDEOLOGIE, STANDAARD, TAALAANLERING,FRANSE EENTALIGE WOORDEBOEKE, ELEKTRONIESE WOORDEBOEKE, CDROMS
How to Cite
Abecassis, M. (1). The Ideology of the Perfect Dictionary: How Efficient Can a Dictionary Be?. Lexikos, 18. https://doi.org/10.5788/18-0-473
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Artikels/Articles