Linguistics Encyclopedia.pdf

The linguistics encyclopedia 400
some dictionaries that order senses by frequency nevertheless order homographs
historically.
Subentries such as run-ons and idioms are either collected at one place in the article—
typically near the end—or scattered throughout it, each subentry going near the sense to
which it is felt to be most closely related.
LEXICOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE
Lexicographers need to decide which lexically relevant units should be entered in a
dictionary and what information should be given about them, and like investigators in
other fields they use evidence gained from three overlapping processes of investigation,
namely introspection, experiment, and observation. Lexicographic observation may be
of primary sources, i.e. authentic language in use (formerly written language only, but
now sometimes recordings of spoken language also), or of secondary sources, i.e.
existing dictionaries and grammars.
Moreover, introspection, observation, and experiment have come to be used not only
to investigate language for lexicographic purposes, but also to investigate the use of
dictionaries and, by market research, the wishes of dictionary users. Such investigations
are undertaken not only to improve the form and content of dictionaries, but also for the
commercial purpose of increasing their distribution.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DICTIONARIES
Dictionaries are important as repositories of information about language and about social
attitudes—for instance, ethnic slurs have been marked diaconnotatively for far longer
than sexual slurs; as texts with relatively explicit and formalized conventions; and as the
oldest and most widespread self-instructional learning aid. They have long enjoyed the
favour of the general public, and commend themselves to the attention of anyone
interested in language—both for what they say, and for what they are.
R.F.I.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING
Benson, M., Benson, E. and Ilson, R.F. (1986), Lexicographic Description of English, Amsterdam
and Philadelphia, John Benjamins.
Ilson, R.F. (ed.) (1985), Dictionaries, Lexicography and Language Learning, Oxford, Pergamon
Press in association with the British Council.