13. Lexicography

1. Would you agree or disagree with these statesments?

Explain your answers.

• Lexicography is a systemic description of the lexis of a given language.

• Lexicography is the art and science of dictionary making.

• Lexicography is applied Lexicology.

• Lexicology is necessary in so far as there is lexicography.

• Language is embodied and codified first and foremost in the dictionary.

• Lexicography is a component of culture.

2. Complete the definition.

A dictionary is …

3. Answer the following questions.

1. What are the main tasks and aims of lexicography?

2. What are the basic problems of lexicography?

3. What is the difference between dictionaries and encyclopedias?

4. What information do dictionaries usually provide?

5. What are the essential features of a new generation of “computer-corpus-based” dictionaries?

What are the advantages of using so-called corpora (e.g. The British National Corpus; the Bank of English, containing 200,000,000 words including 15 million words of Spoken English; the Longman Corpus Network) ?

6. What is the role of “frequency of occurrence” in compiling modern dictionaries? Give examples from a number of dictionaries.

7. What makes learner’s dictionaries different from all others?

What innovations have been introduced in the latest editions of learner’s dictionaries (e.g. Macmillan English Dictionary for advanced learners, 2002)?

4. Can you explain the meaning of these terms?

The defining vocabulary, the headword, a dictionary entry, an electronic dictionary, an online dictionary/web dictionary, a prescriptive/descriptive dictionary, a thesaurus, a glossary, an interactive dictionary, a multimedia dictionary, a bilingual dictionary.

5. What criteria are used to classify dictionaries into the following types?

1. diachronic-synchronic

2. monolingual/unilingual-interlingual

3. general-restricted

4. general-special-purpose/specialized

5. general-scholarly-learner’s

6. explanatory-translation

7. traditional-computer-corpus-based

8. extensive/comprehensive/unabridged - selective/abridged

6. These are the descriptions of some reference books for learners of English. Below are the entries taken from them. Match each entry (1-6) with the reference book (A-F) it is taken from.

1. English Pronouncing Dictionary- a major new edition of Daniel Jones’ classic pronunciation guide.

• Over 80,000 entries

• Full coverage of North American pronunciation

• Stress patterns of compounds and idioms

• All pronunciations use the International Phonetic Alphabet

As well as general vocabulary the dictionary includes

• Encyclopedic: religions, philosophies, historic events

• People: from ancient times to people in the news today

2. Longman Idioms Dictionary- Tearing your hair out over idioms?

Feel like you are always in the dark? Don’t worry- you can’t go wrong with the Longman Idioms Dictionary- a brand-new, up to the minute dictionary that will help you stay ahead of the game.

• Wide coverage of both American and British English

• More than 6000 idioms from spoken and written English, like go postal, it’s all gone pear-shaped, and be on the same page.

3. An A to Z of British Life

What would you buy at the bucket shop?

What lies North of Watford?

Can you eat Spaghetti Junction?

Interesting, amusing and puzzling references are explained in this alphabetical guide to Britain and the British way of life. Over 3000 entries give up-to-date coverage of wide range of topics, including famous people and organizations, government, politics, geography, food, the media, tradition, work and sport.

4. Right Word Wrong Word.

Do you know the difference between “a wage” and “a salary”?

When should you use “angry at” and “angry with”?

Right Word Wrong Word is a reference and practice book which helps students avoid common mistakes in grammar and vocabulary. It is useful for all students of intermediate level and above.

5. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Allusions- discover colourful references to literature and mythology, history and politics, science and sports.

• Discover the hidden meanings you’ve been missing.

Offers clear, concise definitions for more than 9000 allusions, from Achilles’s heel and alma mater to Zen Zuzu’s petals.

• Increase your knowledge beyond the definition.

Provides the term’s history, pronunciation and contemporary examples of the word or phrase used in the context.

• Learn the terms that are used today.

Features thousands of examples taken from today’s top publications, including The New York Times, Life, the Wall Street Journal.

6. Longman Language Activator- The World’s First Production Dictionary.

Calling all students and teachers of English-this revolutionary dictionary will help you expand your vocabulary and increase your proficiency in English!

• If you are a student at intermediate to advanced level, the Activator will help you choose the right word or phrase to express your ideas.

• If you are a teacher, the activator will help you prepare your students for exams.

1. Great Seal /’greıt ’’si:l/, the (government). The state seal of the United Kingdom used on documents of the greatest importance and kept in the office of the Lord Chancellor.

2. drink like a fish –(spoken) to frequently drink a lot of beer, wine, etc: My flatmate Ken drinks like a fish, but, then, so do I.

3. Nobel /nəu 'bel/ (US) no v-stress shift, see compound ’’Nobel ’Prize

4. to find something or someone that is lost or missing

find

turn up

find / faınd / (v,T) Terry lost his passport. I hope he finds it.

turn up /’’t3:n ’/\p/ if something turns up, someone finds it in an unexpected place after everyone stopped looking for it. (phr v I) Those missing keys haven’t turned up yet.

5. exercise

- How often do you take exercise?

(not make/do exercise)

(i.e. in general, to improve your physical condition; uncountable)

• I’m doing exercises to strengthen my leg muscles.

(Not taking/making exercises*) (i.e. particular exercises; countable)

6. jihad /d3i'ha:d, chiefly British- ’had/ A holy war waged on behalf of Islam as a religious duty. Also, a crusade for a principle or belief. It’s the Arabic word for a crusade or holy war against ’infidels’ (unbelievers).

The term in use, by Eric Alterman in Rolling Stone, March 23,1995:

… who was conducted a one-man jihad against the agency ever since he discovered how badly it misread the Cold War…

7. According to the plan below describe one of the following dictionaries.

PLAN

1. The aims and tasks of the dictionary.

2. The phonetic transcription used in the dictionary.

3. Abbreviations and other symbols in the dictionary.

4. The parts the dictionary consists of.

5. Arrangement of entries.

6. The structure and the content of the entries.

7. Verbal and picture illustrations used in the dictionary.

8. Conclusion as to the type and value of the dictionary for learners of English.