The Need for an Alphabetically Arranged General Usage Dictionary ...

trcnched is the monosyllabic myth that they can only vouch for theefticucy of looking up individual graphs by thcir sounds. For allexcept thc largcst classical language clictionaries and solme specializedsinological reference tools. whose use is restricted to a verysni:~ll segment of the population, a single-sort alphabetical sequenceis the most efficient and convenient means for listing entries.In conclusion. this review article stands as a plea to all riiakersof Chinese clictionaries and other reference books. The teii~po andquality of Sinology is sure to be raised if the contents of new researchtools is made more readily accessible through the principle of alphabeticalordering. This is a principle that has been triecl arid testedrepeatedly - both in the East and in the West. It remains now onlyto be put into practice through widespread application in Chinesesti~clics. There is little to lose from adopting such n strategy andmuch to gain. including an enhanced understanding of diverse aspectsof Chinese civilization.