In his textbook “Lexical Semantics”, D. A. Cruse defines dictionaries as follows: “An ordinary dictionary characterises a lexical item in three distinct, though intimately inter-connected, ways: first, its form (graphic and phonological); second, its grammatical function; and third, its meaning.” (1986: 1)
The biggest challenge for dictionaries usually lies in the latter: the description of mean-ing. Readers of dictionaries may have different backgrounds of knowledge and a dis-tinct vocabulary, so their understanding of definitions may vary greatly. Bilingual dic-tionaries have an easier time facing this challenge. They simply state the translation for a lexical unit. Monolingual dictionaries, however, need to find ways to adequately and comprehensively describe meaning, with different target groups in mind.
The following paper will discuss which methods dictionaries use to describe meaning. A special emphasis will be put on monolingual dictionaries and their approach to bringing meaning across to learners of English, who naturally draw on a limited vocabulary and thus may require innovative methods for the description of meaning.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Describing Meaning in Monolingual Dictionaries
2.1 Definitions
2.2 Intensional or Extensional Definitions
2.3 Polysemy
2.4 Collocations
3. Meaning for Learners
4. Describing Meaning in Bilingual Dictionaries
5. Conclusion
6. Research Project
6.1 Setting and Explanation
6.2 Results
6.3 Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper examines the methods used by both monolingual and bilingual dictionaries to describe the meaning of lexical items. The primary objective is to investigate how these methods cater to different target groups, specifically language learners, and to evaluate the effectiveness of various definition and translation approaches through a practical research project.
- Theoretical foundations of lexical semantics and dictionary definitions.
- Distinction between intensional and extensional definitions in lexicography.
- The role of polysemy and collocations in meaning description.
- Comparative analysis of monolingual vs. bilingual dictionary strategies.
- Empirical evaluation of student performance using different dictionary entry types.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Definitions
The definition of a lemma is the central component of a monolingual dictionary. The main function of a definition is to explain the meaning of a word. In this context one should note that academic research into semantics has not yet been able to come up with a system for the description of meaning (cf. Herbst, Klotz 2003: 33). Definitions are an attempt to characterize the ‘meaning’ or sense of a lexeme and to distinguish the meaning of the lexeme contrasted with the meanings of other lexemes in the same semantic field, for example the ‘elephant’ from other large mammals. (Jackson, Zé Amvela, 2009: 211)
At the same time the question remains to which extent it is possible to universally describe meaning anyway. Each dictionary aims at enabling its specific group of readers to obtain an idea as precisely as possible of the meanings of its words. Regarding to this objective, a very flexible and possibly eclectic use of semantic methods might be reasonable (cf. Herbst, Klotz 2003: 33). Correspondingly, definitions in monolingual dictionaries usually contain one or more of the following methods:
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the fundamental challenge of describing meaning in dictionaries and sets the focus on the needs of English language learners.
2. Describing Meaning in Monolingual Dictionaries: Explores the diverse methodologies for defining terms, including specific types of definitions, polysemy, and collocations.
2.1 Definitions: Discusses the function of definitions as a characterization of a lexeme within a semantic field.
2.2 Intensional or Extensional Definitions: Explains the classification of definitions based on superordinate concepts or the listing of specific instances.
2.3 Polysemy: Examines how dictionaries manage words with multiple meanings based on corpus data and varying linguistic criteria.
2.4 Collocations: Addresses the inclusion of typical word combinations in dictionary entries.
3. Meaning for Learners: Focuses on the development of learner-oriented dictionaries that utilize corpus data to improve usage and accessibility.
4. Describing Meaning in Bilingual Dictionaries: Investigates the translation-based approach and the specific challenges posed by culture-specific lemmata and translation gaps.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes that there is no single best approach and emphasizes user-orientation and flexibility in lexicography.
6. Research Project: Details an empirical survey conducted with students to test the effectiveness of definitions versus translations.
6.1 Setting and Explanation: Describes the methodology of the student survey, including the selection of word classes and questionnaire design.
6.2 Results: Analyzes the survey data, showing how different learner groups responded to definitions versus translations for specific words.
6.3 Conclusion: Concludes that both target-language definitions and mother-tongue translations serve important roles depending on the user's proficiency.
Keywords
Lexicography, Monolingual Dictionaries, Bilingual Dictionaries, Semantics, Definitions, Polysemy, Collocations, Language Learning, Lexical Semantics, Corpus Data, Translation, Lemma, Language Teaching, User-Orientation, Lexeme.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores the methodologies dictionaries employ to describe the meaning of words, with a particular emphasis on the distinct strategies used in monolingual and bilingual dictionaries.
What are the core thematic areas?
The work covers lexical semantics, the structure of dictionary entries, the specific needs of language learners, and the challenges of bridging languages in translation.
What is the central research question?
The research seeks to determine whether language learners benefit more from definitions in the target language or from translations in their mother tongue when trying to understand new vocabulary.
Which research methods are applied?
The author uses a theoretical approach based on established lexicographical literature and an empirical survey involving 28 secondary school students.
What does the main body analyze?
The main body examines different types of definitions, polysemy, the role of collocations, and performs a comparative analysis between how monolingual and bilingual dictionaries facilitate understanding.
How would you describe the key terminology?
The study relies on core lexicographical terms such as 'lemma', 'genus proximum', 'differentia specifica', and 'polysemy' to explain how meaning is constructed and presented.
What was the outcome of the research project for the word 'enhance'?
The survey revealed that students performed significantly better when provided with a German translation compared to a dictionary definition in English.
How does the author handle cultural nuances?
The author highlights the difficulty of translating culture-specific terms like 'A-Levels' or 'Rechtsanwalt', suggesting that simple translation is often insufficient.
What is the final conclusion regarding lexicographical methods?
The paper concludes that there is no single ideal method; instead, dictionaries must remain flexible and user-oriented to effectively bridge the gap for different levels of language learners.
- Citar trabajo
- Christian Haas (Autor), 2014, The Different Ways of Describing Meaning in Monolingual Dictionaries, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/292912
