DictionaryDICTIONARY

HISTORY

A book containing a selection of words of a language or a some special subjects arranged alphabetically with explanation about them.

a collection of words in one or more specific languages, often listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information.

What is a “dictionary”?

a dictionary may be regarded as a lexicographical product that is characterized by three significant features:

(1) it contains data that have been selected for the purpose of fulfilling those functions; and

(2) its lexicographic structures link and establish relationships between the data so that they can meet the needs of users and fulfill the functions of the dictionary.

(3) it has been prepared for one or more functions;

USES

Define or translate words

verify spelling syllabication or pronunciation

check on usage (prescriptive and descriptive)

to determine the etymological history of a word

to an extent, standardize the language

3 types of Dictionary:

COMPACT

is, naturally, a small pocket sized variety that is somewhat limited in the scope of it's content.

GENERAL

lies somewhere between specialized and compact dictionary.

the most common version that people would have in their home and is the best for everyday use.

FUNCTIONS:

to provide definitions, proper pronunciation, correct spelling and derivations any restrictive labels attached to a word.

contains 265 000 of words and more.

Unabridged dictionaries are the most scholarly and comprehensive of all dictionaries, sometimes consisting of many volumes.

They emphasize the history of words and the variety of their uses.

1. Unabridged Dictionaries

• Webster’s 3rd new international dictionary. 1961

• The random house dictionary.

• The Oxford English Dictionary, (20 volumes)

• The Random House Dictionary of the English Language

• Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language

Examples of Unabridged Dictionary

often called desk dictionaries, list 150,000 to 250,000 words and concentrate largely on fairly common words and meanings. A good desk dictionary will serve most reference needs for writing or reading.

2. Abridged Dictionaries

The American heritage dictionary

Webster’s new collegiate dictionary

Webster’s new world dictionary of American language

The random house college dictionary

The American heritage dictionary

Examples of Abridged Dictionaries

Limited to under 60,000 words

3. Reduced-Word Dictionaries

Example:

Oxford American dictionary ( 30,000 WORDS)

specialized dictionary is a dictionary that covers a relatively restricted set of phenomena.

an exhaustive volume that specialises in the history of words.

It enlarges on where words come from and how they acquired their present meaning.

(Specialized Dictionaries)

Dictionary of American regional English

The random house cross- word puzzle dictionary

Example of Specialized Dictionaries

The diachronic or historical dictionary has a special class in it which can be called etymological.

Shows and gives history of words

An etymological dictionary traces a word's development over time, giving historical examples to show changes.

Etymological/Diachronic Dictionary

Oxford English dictionary

Ancient Greek Etymological Dictionary

Afroasiatic Etymological Dictionary

Example of Etymological/ diachronic dictionary

Reasons for importance:

Indicates the variations of meanings of a given slang terms of words and to trace thier history

Defines all expression well

Aids authors in finding words which will covey the background , class, or occupation of a given character

Slang dictionaries

Just for pain curiosity and interest

dictionary of American slang

Thesaurus of slang

New dictionary of American slang

Example of slang dictionaries:

Synonym- a word with the same/similar meaning

Antonym- words that mean the opposite

Synonyms and Antonyms

Roget’s international thesaurus

Roget’s thesaurus of English of words and phrases

Webster collegiate thesaurus

Webter’s new dictionary for synonym

Example:

Explain particular meanings for particular words/ terms for professions, occupation, or areas of subject interest.

Dictionaries of Abbreviations and Acronyms

Subject Dictionaries

Harrod’s Librarians Glossary Terms

ALA Glossary of Librarian and Information Science

Example:

The cassel’s series

Dictionary of foreign phrases and abbreviations

Larrousse also publishes dictionaries

Foreign Language Dictionaries:

Biographical dictionaries – ESSAY FORM type of encyclopedic dictionary limited to biographical information –

have been written in many languages. Many attempt to cover the major personalities of a country (with

limitations, such as living persons only, in Who's Who, or deceased people only,

Biographical Dictionary

Example:

Dictionary of National Biography

Current Biographical Dictionaries

are published at regular intervals and provide information about contemporaries, for example, biographical works of the “Who’s Who” type.

Example:

Current Biography

The New York Times Biographical Service

Newsmakers (Gale Research Co.)

a work containing information about the lives and work of various persons, usually listed alphabetically; some dictionaries classify persons by time period or descriptive category.

Retrospective Biographical Dictionaries:

MC gram hill encyclopedia of word biography

Webter’s new biographical dictionary

New century cyclopedia of names

Example:

Dictionary of American Biography

Dictionary of American Negro Biograph

Who Was Who – Britain

Who Was Who in America: Historical Volume 1607-1896

Retrospective Biographical Dictionaries: National

The End…Thank You for Listening!!!