Types of dictionary and their classification

The main objective in this session is to classify the main types of dictionary, of which there are many, in terms of their characteristic properties.

Tasks:

• Search the web for different kinds of dictionary (see the examples listed below).
• Create a table relating the following two domains:
  1. dictionary types,
  2. characteristic properties of dictionaries (including a definition of each type).

Some dictionary types are:

1. semasiological and onomasiological perspectives,
2. monoloingual, bilingual and multilingual dictionaries,
3. concordances,
4. terminology dictionaries,
5. lexica,
6. thesauri,
7. encyclopaedias,
8. lexical databases.

The three main kinds of properties which dictionaries have can be summarised in terms of the following three concepts, which refer to the structure of dictionaries:

Microstructure:

the structure of individual lexical entries, including types of lexical information and the way in which types of lexical information are organised,

Mesostructure:

the relations between lexical entries and some other source of information, typically expressed as microstructure references to:

1. a general descriptive section including descriptions of parts of speech, other grammatical information, morphology, pronunciation,
2. other lexical entries, in the form of textual or hyperlink cross-references, typically synonyms, antonyms and other lexical semantic relations,
3. external materials such as text corpora, datelines describing where and when the word has been used.

Macrostructure:

the overall organisation of the dictionary, including lexical entries and their microstructure, and the mesostructure.

Hint:

Check the lexicographic projects (particularly contributions to the 2002 EMELD workshop on lexicon description) for systematic and theoretical background material.

Example of a possible table format

Specific dictionary Dictionary type Macrostructure type Microstructure type Mesostructure type .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........