Lexicography

Lexicography is either of two things

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Practical lexicography is the art or craft of writing dictionaries.
• Theoretical lexicography is the scholarly discipline of analyzing and describing the semantic relationships within the lexicon (vocabulary) of a language. This is sometimes referred to as metalexicography.

A person devoted to lexicography is called a lexicographer.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

General lexicography focuses on the design, compilation, use and evaluation of general dictionaries, i.e. dictionaries that provide a description of the language in general use. Such a dictionary is usually called a general dictionary or LGP dictionary. Specialized lexicography focuses on the design, compilation, use and evaluation of specialized dictionaries, i.e. dictionaries that are devoted to a (relatively restricted) set of linguistic and factual elements of one or more specialist subject fields, e.g. legal lexicography. Such a dictionary is usually called a specialized dictionary or LSP dictionary.

Related Topics:
LGP dictionary - Legal lexicography - Specialized dictionary - LSP dictionary

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There is some disagreement on the definition of lexicology, as distinct from lexicography. Some use "lexicology" as a synonym for theoretical lexicography; others use it to mean a branch of linguistics pertaining to the inventory of words in a particular language.

Related Topics:
Lexicology - Lexicography - Linguistics

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It is now widely accepted that lexicography is a scholarly discipline in its own right and not a sub-branch of linguistics.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Most English lexicographers would find interest in Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language (1755). He famously defined a lexicographer as "A writer of dictionaries; a harmless drudge that busies himself in tracing the original, and detailing the signification of words".

Related Topics:
Lexicographer - Samuel Johnson

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 
Lexicography: Aspects of lexicography ►