Howard Jackson analyses a wide range of dictionaries to reveal the ways in which dictionaries fulfil their dual function of describing the vocabulary of English and providing a useful and accessible reference resource.
The first few chapters of the book are very accessible as an introduction to lexicography. It gets less useful towards the end, with the last chapter (about dictionary reviews) only useful strictly to those who might actually write a dictionary review. The materials are also inevitably dated about 18 years after publication. Almost all the dictionaries illustrated have newer editions, and the various parts of the book talking (in very detailed fashion) about CD-ROM versions of dictionaries are not relevant anymore.
This book was the main studying material of the lexicography course that I took in my senior year at university. It is such a rich and informative book; highly recommended for those who are interested in studying dictionaries. In terms of its language, “Lexicography: an introduction” is written in a very smooth easy-to-understand academic English. The overall organization of book sections is very logical and clear. In short, this book is very precious!