Lecture Three, 30th of October 2007
The architecture of a dictionary
1. Introduction
2. Learner's Diary
3. Tasks and Quizzes
4. Evaluation
5. References
1. Introduction
First a revision of the last lecture of definitions in dictionaries and the different types of dictionaries, after that an introduction of the parts of the dictionary, the megastructure, macrostructure, mesostructure and microstructure.
2. Learner's Diary
Revision
definition in dictionaries (standard definitions), X is Y kind of a Z
The architecture of a dictionary
1. Introduction
2. Learner's Diary
3. Tasks and Quizzes
4. Evaluation
5. References
1. Introduction
First a revision of the last lecture of definitions in dictionaries and the different types of dictionaries, after that an introduction of the parts of the dictionary, the megastructure, macrostructure, mesostructure and microstructure.
2. Learner's Diary
Revision
definition in dictionaries (standard definitions), X is Y kind of a Z
metadata is the general data about the dictionary (publishers, title)
semasiological dictionary
reader’s dictionary, or decoding dictionary
onomasiological dictionary
writer’s dictionary, or encoding dictionary
Types of lexical information in dictionary entries
FORM (cf. appearance), e.g. spelling, pronunciation
STRUCTURE (cf. formulation), e.g. construction of words, place of words in larger constructions (e.g. sentences)
CONTENT (cf. meaning):
- definition
- relations with other words
- examples
Parts of a dictionary
Megastructure
The megastructure of a dictionary is the entire structure of the dictionary, including
- the front matter
- abbreviations and explanations of grammar
- the body of the dictionary
- the back matter
Macrostructure
The macrostructure of a dictionary is the organisation of the lexical entries in the body of a dictionary into
- lists
- tree structures
- networks
Types of macrostructure
- semasiological
- onomasiological
Mesostructure
The mesostructure of a dictionary is the set of relations between lexical entries and other entities such as other parts of a dictionary or a text corpus.
- Links between different kinds of information
- Links between groups of lexical information types such as grammar, modality, object semantics
- Abbreviations for parts of speech (link to mini-grammar)
- Links between related entries (co-hyponyms such as synonyms, antonyms)
- References to text corpora (concordance function)
- Structure which holds the dictionary together
- Links to other examples/entries/ parts of the dictionary/text
-Cross references
Mesostructure
Microstructure
The microstructure of a dictionary is the consistent organisation of lexical information in the dictionary
- structure of each individual lexical entry
- information bout the structure of the word
- organisation of the lexical information
- content: pragmatics, semantics
Types of lexical information
The picture shows how the different structures of a dictionary are related to each other:
Synonym:
- meaning is the same
- for example: small and little
Antonym
- word meaning the opposite of another word
- antonym to little is huge
Hyponym
animal (dog cat mouse)
a dog, cat and mouse are hyponyms to the word animal
3. Tasks and Quizzes
What is the megastructure/ macrostructure of a lexicon?
The megastructure is the overall structure of the whole dictionary, consisting of the front matter (title, introduction, metadata on publishing house, publisher, date of publication, etc.) abbreviations and basic explanations, for example a mini-grammar, which is important to understand the definitions of the words, the actual body of the dictionary with its semasiological or onomasiological information and the back matter (printer, advertisements, information on the type of paper used and so on).
The macrostructure is the organisation of the lexical entries in either lists (semasiological dictionaries), tree structures (onomasiological dictionaries) or networks (electronic or online dictionaries). What is a semasiological/ onomasiological dictionary? Give examples.
A semasiological dictionary can also be called a reader's dictionary, as it explains the meaning of words, and decodes them. It consists of a list of a definitions of words, mostly also contextual explanations are given.
An onomasiological dictionary is called a writer's dictionary, as you can find synonyms and word fields there, which help you to make you choice of words a bit more variable, for example a Thesaurus. The structure of an onomasiological dictionary is a hierarchical tree structure with the most general term at the top and then specifying.
How many types of lexical information can you find?
You can find three standard types of lexical information that can be found
Content - the meaning of a word with its semantics and pragmatics.
Structure - the structure of a word consisting syntax in a text or a phrase and morphology
Rendering - the appearance or form of a word, i.e. its pronunciation and orthography
Is the microstructure of a semasiological dictionary typically a list, a tree or a network?
A listWhat kind of structure do the combined macrostructure and microstructure of a semasiological dictionary have?
A table, as it combines a vertical and a horizontal structure.
And an onomasiological dictionary?
The onomasiological dictionary has a tree structure as the thesaurus. It has lots and lots of branches (cross references).
What is the microstructure of a dictionary?
The organisation of the lexical information of the lexical entries is the microstructure of a dictionary. It is the structure of each individual entry. For a semasiological dictionary in a list with types of lexical information in a particular, consistent order. The microstructure of an onomasiological dictionary is organised as a hierarchical tree structure with the most general term on top and then specifying it.
What kind of lexical information is contained in a dictionary's microstructure?
There can be found information on the appearance (form), the meaning (pragmatics, semantics) and the structure (morphology, syntax) of a word.
How do you define “definition”? Give examples
The standard version of a definition by nearest kind (genus proximum) and specific differences (differentia specifica) e.g. a banana (definiendum) is a kind of fruit (nearest kind).
What is the mesostructure of a dictionary?
The mesostructure of a dictionary is the set of relations between lexical entries and other entities such as other parts of a dictionary or a text corpus. It links all the individual entries together within the microstructure and it also links the entries to other parts of the dictionary such as or a text corpus.
Give examples for mesostructural elements concerning
Types of information with reference to the sign model
grammar, modality or object semantics
Linguistic description references Linguistic description references such as the use of abbreviations for parts of speech or characterisations of the spelling. Cross-references between related entries Co-hyponyms like synonyms or antonyms.
Corpus references Give examples how to use a word in the right context.
Take one of your dictionaries, and describe in as much detail as possible its megastructure, macrostructure, microstructure and mesostructure
Megastructure
Dictionary of Contemporary English by Longman, published by Langenscheidt-Longman Metadata
3rd edition, year of publication 1978, 1987, 1995, printed by Druckerei Parzelller GmbH & Co. KG, ISBN Number (hard cover: 3-526-50808-9; soft cover: 3-526-508089-7), acknowledgements - short forms, labels, pronunciation table in IPA and special signs, - table of contents, preface by Randolph Quirk (Professor the Lord Quirk, FBA), Introduction by Della Summers concerning the changes and improvements on the earlier editions - explanatory chart, describing all the parts of lexical information in detail, a guide to the dictionary, explaining 1. How to find the word you are looking for, 2. Understanding meaning, 3. Frequency, 4. Grammar, 5. Information on register and usage, 6. Pronunciation, 7. British and American English - Tables on 1. Numbers, 2. Weights and Measures, 3. Military ranks, 4. Word formation, 5. The verb “be”, 6. Irregular verbs, 7. The Longman Defining Vocabulary: around 2000 words on which all the definitions in this dictionary are based, followed by the list of these words and prefixes and suffixes that can be used with words of the Defining Vocabulary, 8. Geographical names - Grammar codes Body
As it this is an semasiological dictionary it consists of an alphabetical list of words.
Back matterAn advertisement for the dictionary itself, a short list of advantages this particular dictionary offers the potential buyer, the bar code and again the ISBN No.
Macrostructure
an alphabetical list of lexical entries and in addition to that full page illustrations for the word fields: car, house, colours, describing people, fruit, vegetables, driving, pieces, kitchen, verbs in the kitchen, landscapes, weather, office, restaurant, patterns and fabrics, describing clothes, physical contact 1&2, position and direction, adjectives: broken, sounds, types of walk, sports 1&2
Microstructure orthography and syllables, pronunciation, part of speech, grammar annotations, definition contextual definitions, examples, definition, syntax, word(s) with the same stem, who do not have a separate entry, models, usage notes, tables
Mesostructure abbreviations for the parts of speech ( adj, adv, conj, n, prep, pron, v) referring to the short forms and label section of the megastructure, also signs in IPA with reference to the Pronunciation table, references to the Grammar codes (countable, uncountable noun, and so on), co- hyponyms
4. Evaluation
It is a little bit difficult to understand the structures of a dictionary. Nevertheless it was a good lecture, there should be a little bit more information.
5. References
http://wwwhomes.uni-bielefeld.de/~gibbon/Classes/Classes2007WS/ITL/index.html
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