English Dictionaries: A Linguistic Introduction

by Thomas Herbst, Michael Klotz, Kevin Pike (Translation Assistance)

English - the world's most widely used language - has a large and varied dictionary market serving users around the world. The present introduction to English lexicography takes a linguistic perspective on English dictionaries, while at the same time putting great focus on the needs of the users and in particular foreign learners.Starting from the user perspective and the question of what makes a "good" dictionary, the book familiarizes the reader with a wide variety of English dictionaries and the characteristics which distinguish them. Topics such as dictionary structure, the information types of mono- and bilingual (English-German) dictionaries and a large number of specialized English dictionaries ranging from historical to learner's dictionaries are thoroughly discussed and illustrated from a wide range of current editions of major English dictionaries. The relevant terminology of lexicography is worked into the discussion in individual chapters, however the number of terms introduced in this book is restricted to a manageable size. Although much of what is said in the book applies to print and electronic dictionaries alike, one entire chapter is dedicated to specific aspects of the quickly developing field of electronic lexicography.
While the book's main focus is on English dictionaries, many aspects of the linguistic description of the English language are also discussed with respect to their treatment in dictionaries. Readers will therefore also be introduced to the many characteristics of the English language itself.

287 pages, Paperback

First published May 27, 2016

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, really didn't think this one would be as good as it is, considering the specificity and seeming dryness on a brief flip-through in the library, and the authors focus mainly on bilingual German-to-English dictionaries. You'll see alot of comparison back and forth between German and English, but it doesn't skew the discussion... it merely adds flavor.

Beautifully written, coherently (and obsessively, as befits the subject) organized, and an oddly excellent primer to lexicography in general. Covers standard monolingual dictionaries and their contents, 'e-dictionaries' (circa 2012), bilingual and learners dictionaries, and all the various things that go into properly designing them. Brief histories of major dictionaries, their innovations and feature changes over time, numerous comparisons between formats, and analysis on their influence and effectiveness to various groups of readers is all tied back to lexicographic theory.

Recommended for bibliophiles, language snobs, and meta-readers of all stripes. It's accessible, comprehensive, and well designed... all the things you want in a dictionary, or a book about them.