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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 [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.

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.[5]

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]

 

[[Category: Languages and Literature]]