What is the most likely performed action of a person who stumbles over a yet to him unknown or unfamiliar word? It is neither the internet nor the television (which holds plenty of information and is without a doubt the most important source in requiring recent news) but the dictionary he will seek his information in.
In the time of globalization, the influence and significance of communicating with humans of different speaking languages is raising. Language is first of all a means of communication and it is no exaggeration if one is proclaiming that knowing more than the native tongue and being at least bilingual has become a normalcy.
If we want to understand and communicate with people of other nations, we ultimately have to learn their language and vice versa. Dictionaries provide the basic information if it is about learning something of different languages. The importance of the dictionary becomes evident by the fact that over 90 % of households in Britain possess at least one dictionary, therefore making it far more popular than the Bible, which was to be found in about 80 % of households in England in 1983, according to the Bible Society. 1
The dictionary being referred to in this term paper is one particular type of dictionary, namely the monolingual dictionary for the adult native speaker of English. The aim of this work is to outline the history as well as the structure of a common dictionary. How is it arranged, what content and information does it provide and what purposes does it fulfil? These and other questions will be subjects of concern.
Besides dictionaries, other helpful sources exist in attaining a language’s vocabulary, phrases and synonyms. One of these excellent sources is a thesaurus, which will be the subject of the second half in this term paper. Stress is being put on the history as well as the structure and content of a thesaurus.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 0. Introduction
- 1. Concise overview of the historical development of dictionaries
- 2. General purposes of dictionaries
- 2.1 Organization of a dictionary in detail
- 2.2 Dictionary information
- 3. What is a Thesaurus?
- 4. History of the Roget's Thesaurus
- 5. Construction and content of Roget's Thesaurus
- 6. Conclusion
- 7. Works cited
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper aims to explore the history, structure, and function of both dictionaries and thesauruses. It examines the evolution of dictionaries from early Latin lexicons to the comprehensive Oxford English Dictionary (OED), analyzing their organizational principles and the type of information they provide. The paper then shifts focus to thesauruses, exploring their history, construction, and how they differ from dictionaries.
- Historical development of dictionaries and thesauruses
- Structure and organization of dictionaries and thesauruses
- Information provided by dictionaries and thesauruses
- The purposes and uses of dictionaries and thesauruses
- Comparison of dictionaries and thesauruses
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
0. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the central theme of the paper: comparing and contrasting dictionaries and thesauruses as tools for language learning and understanding. It highlights the increasing importance of multilingual communication in a globalized world and emphasizes the ubiquitous role of dictionaries in modern society, citing statistics on dictionary ownership in Britain. The introduction clearly lays out the paper's objectives: to examine the historical development, structure, and purpose of both dictionaries and thesauruses.
1. Concise overview of the historical development of dictionaries: This chapter traces the evolution of dictionaries, starting with early Latin lexicons like "De Significatu Verborum." It highlights key milestones in the development of English dictionaries, focusing on Robert Cawdrey's "Table Alphabeticall" as the first monolingual English dictionary and Thomas Blount's "Glossographia" as a more comprehensive work that included etymologies and illustrations. The chapter culminates with a detailed discussion of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), its ambitious project, and its ongoing evolution, including the debate surrounding its future print versus online availability.
2. General purposes of dictionaries: This chapter delves into the various functions of dictionaries. It emphasizes that the purpose of a dictionary significantly influences its construction and content. The chapter explores how dictionaries serve the needs of readers by organizing words alphabetically, providing definitions, usage notes, and information on orthography and pronunciation. The chapter concludes by showing a dictionary’s typical components.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Dictionaries, thesauruses, lexicography, language learning, etymology, Oxford English Dictionary (OED), monolingual dictionaries, synonyms, definitions, historical development, language communication, vocabulary, Roget's Thesaurus.
FAQ: A Comprehensive Language Preview - Dictionaries and Thesauruses
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of a term paper exploring the history, structure, and function of dictionaries and thesauruses. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What topics are covered in the term paper?
The term paper covers the historical development of dictionaries and thesauruses, their structure and organization, the information they provide, their purposes and uses, and a comparison of the two.
What is the historical development of dictionaries discussed in the paper?
The paper traces the evolution of dictionaries from early Latin lexicons to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), highlighting key milestones such as Robert Cawdrey's "Table Alphabeticall" and Thomas Blount's "Glossographia," and examining the OED's ambitious project and ongoing evolution.
What are the general purposes of dictionaries according to the paper?
The paper discusses how the purpose of a dictionary influences its construction and content. It emphasizes that dictionaries serve readers by organizing words alphabetically, providing definitions, usage notes, and information on orthography and pronunciation. The paper also details a dictionary's typical components.
What is the focus on thesauruses in the paper?
The paper explores the history of thesauruses, focusing on Roget's Thesaurus, examining its construction and content, and highlighting how it differs from dictionaries.
What are the key themes of the paper?
Key themes include the historical development of dictionaries and thesauruses, their structure and organization, the information they provide, their purposes and uses, and a comparison of dictionaries and thesauruses.
What are the chapter summaries provided in the preview?
The preview includes summaries of each chapter, outlining the content and focus of each section of the paper. These summaries provide an overview of the paper's structure and arguments.
What are the keywords associated with this term paper?
Keywords include: Dictionaries, thesauruses, lexicography, language learning, etymology, Oxford English Dictionary (OED), monolingual dictionaries, synonyms, definitions, historical development, language communication, vocabulary, Roget's Thesaurus.
What is the overall goal of the term paper?
The term paper aims to compare and contrast dictionaries and thesauruses as tools for language learning and understanding, emphasizing their importance in a globalized world.
What kind of information is included in this preview?
This preview includes a table of contents, the objectives and key themes of the term paper, chapter summaries, and a list of keywords. It provides a comprehensive overview of the paper's content and scope.
- Citar trabajo
- Eva Steinbrecher (Autor), Anke Böttcher (Autor), 2005, Comparison between a Dictionary and Roget’s Thesaurus, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/135247
