239709 Lexicography: How to make a dictionary (S) (SoSe 2012)

Dictionaries have existed for centuries and are indispensable for the foreign language learner. In this introduction to lexicography – the art of dictionary making and the study of dictionaries – we will look at the history, different types, and content of these essential reference works. As much as it is a commonplace that dictionaries give spellings and meanings of words, we will discover that, in addition, they offer a wide range of linguistic data, for example: pronunciation, etymology, information on usage, collocations, etc. However, for the inexperienced dictionary user it is not always easy to decode this information. The seminar will focus on those dictionary types which are of prime importance for students of English and prospective English teachers: learners’ dictionaries, desk dictionaries and comprehensive dictionaries based on historical principles. Brief attention will also be paid to dictionaries for special purposes, such as etymological dictionaries, synonym dictionaries, dictionaries of neologisms, slang dictionaries etc.

Bibliography

A reader with the required reading assignments for each session will be made available before start of term. Please make sure to get your personal copy before our first meeting.