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| ==Origin== | | ==Origin== |
| Medieval Latin ''dictionarium'', from Late Latin ''diction''-, ''dictio'' word, from [[Latin]], [[speaking]] | | Medieval Latin ''dictionarium'', from Late Latin ''diction''-, ''dictio'' word, from [[Latin]], [[speaking]] |
− | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1526] | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_century 1526] |
| ==Definitions== | | ==Definitions== |
| *1: a [[reference]] source in print or electronic form containing [[words]] usually alphabetically arranged along with [[information]] about their [[forms]], pronunciations, [[functions]], etymologies, [[meanings]], and syntactical and idiomatic uses | | *1: a [[reference]] source in print or electronic form containing [[words]] usually alphabetically arranged along with [[information]] about their [[forms]], pronunciations, [[functions]], etymologies, [[meanings]], and syntactical and idiomatic uses |
| *2: a reference [[book]] listing alphabetically terms or names important to a particular subject or [[activity]] along with [[discussion]] of their [[meanings]] and applications | | *2: a reference [[book]] listing alphabetically terms or names important to a particular subject or [[activity]] along with [[discussion]] of their [[meanings]] and applications |
| ==Description== | | ==Description== |
− | A '''dictionary''' (also called a wordbook, lexicon or vocabulary) is a collection of [[words]] in one or more specific [[languages]], often listed alphabetically, with usage [[information]], [[definitions]], etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other [[information]]; or a book of words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexicon lexicon]. According to Nielsen (2008) a dictionary may be regarded as a lexicographical product that is characterised by [[three]] significant features: (1) it has been [[prepared]] for one or more [[functions]]; (2) it contains [[data]] that have been selected for the purpose of fulfilling those functions; and (3) its lexicographic [[structures]] link and establish [[relationships]] between the [[data]] so that they can meet the needs of users and fulfill the functions of the dictionary. | + | A '''dictionary''' (also called a wordbook, lexicon or vocabulary) is a collection of [[words]] in one or more specific [[languages]], often listed alphabetically, with usage [[information]], [[definitions]], etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other [[information]]; or a book of words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexicon lexicon]. According to Nielsen (2008) a dictionary may be regarded as a lexicographical product that is characterised by [[three]] significant features: (1) it has been [[prepared]] for one or more [[functions]]; (2) it contains [[data]] that have been selected for the purpose of fulfilling those functions; and (3) its lexicographic [[structures]] link and establish [[relationships]] between the [[data]] so that they can meet the needs of users and fulfill the functions of the dictionary. |
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− | A broad distinction is made between general and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specialized_dictionaries specialized dictionaries]. Specialized dictionaries do not contain [[information]] about [[words]] that are used in [[language]] for general [[purposes]]—words used by ordinary people in everyday situations. Lexical items that [[describe]] concepts in specific fields are usually called terms instead of [[words]], although there is no [[consensus]] whether [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexicology lexicology] and terminology are two [[different]] fields of [[study]]. In [[theory]], general dictionaries are supposed to be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semasiological semasiological], mapping word to [[definition]], while specialized dictionaries are supposed to be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onomasiological onomasiological], first identifying [[concepts]] and then establishing the terms used to designate them. In [[practice]], the two approaches are used for both types. There are other types of dictionaries that don't fit neatly in the above distinction, for instance bilingual ([[translation]]) dictionaries, dictionaries of synonyms ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thesaurus thesauri]), or rhyming dictionaries. The word dictionary (unqualified) is usually [[understood]] to refer to a monolingual general-purpose dictionary. | + | A broad distinction is made between general and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specialized_dictionaries specialized dictionaries]. Specialized dictionaries do not contain [[information]] about [[words]] that are used in [[language]] for general [[purposes]]—words used by ordinary people in everyday situations. Lexical items that [[describe]] concepts in specific fields are usually called terms instead of [[words]], although there is no [[consensus]] whether [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexicology lexicology] and terminology are two [[different]] fields of [[study]]. In [[theory]], general dictionaries are supposed to be [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semasiological semasiological], mapping word to [[definition]], while specialized dictionaries are supposed to be [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onomasiological onomasiological], first identifying [[concepts]] and then establishing the terms used to designate them. In [[practice]], the two approaches are used for both types. There are other types of dictionaries that don't fit neatly in the above distinction, for instance bilingual ([[translation]]) dictionaries, dictionaries of synonyms ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thesaurus thesauri]), or rhyming dictionaries. The word dictionary (unqualified) is usually [[understood]] to refer to a monolingual general-purpose dictionary. |
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− | A [[different]] [[dimension]] on which dictionaries (usually just general-purpose ones) are sometimes distinguished is whether they are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescription_and_description prescriptive or descriptive], the latter being in [[theory]] largely based on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_corpus linguistic corpus] studies—this is the case of most [[modern]] dictionaries. However, this distinction cannot be upheld in the strictest sense. The choice of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headword headwords] is [[considered]] itself of prescriptive nature; for instance, dictionaries avoid having too many [[taboo]] words in that position. Stylistic indications (e.g. ‘informal’ or ‘vulgar’) present in many modern dictionaries is considered less than objectively descriptive as well. | + | A [[different]] [[dimension]] on which dictionaries (usually just general-purpose ones) are sometimes distinguished is whether they are [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescription_and_description prescriptive or descriptive], the latter being in [[theory]] largely based on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_corpus linguistic corpus] studies—this is the case of most [[modern]] dictionaries. However, this distinction cannot be upheld in the strictest sense. The choice of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headword headwords] is [[considered]] itself of prescriptive nature; for instance, dictionaries avoid having too many [[taboo]] words in that position. Stylistic indications (e.g. ‘informal’ or ‘vulgar’) present in many modern dictionaries is considered less than objectively descriptive as well. |
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− | Although the first recorded dictionaries date back to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumer Sumerian] times (these were bilingual dictionaries), the systematic [[study]] of dictionaries as objects of scientific interest themselves is a 20th century enterprise, called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexicography lexicography], and largely initiated by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladislav_Zgusta Ladislav Zgusta]. The [[birth]] of the new discipline was not without controversy, the practical dictionary-makers being sometimes accused of "astonishing" lack of method and critical-self reflection.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dictionary] | + | Although the first recorded dictionaries date back to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumer Sumerian] times (these were bilingual dictionaries), the systematic [[study]] of dictionaries as objects of scientific interest themselves is a 20th century enterprise, called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexicography lexicography], and largely initiated by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladislav_Zgusta Ladislav Zgusta]. The [[birth]] of the new discipline was not without controversy, the practical dictionary-makers being sometimes accused of "astonishing" lack of method and critical-self reflection.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dictionary] |
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| [[Category: Languages and Literature]] | | [[Category: Languages and Literature]] |