2007-10-23

Summary

1. Definition of "definition"

Different dictionaries have different kinds of definition. Generally speaking, there're two kinds of dictionaries: Onomasiological dictionary (also named writer's dictionary or encoding dictionary) and Semasiological dictionary (also named reader's dictionary or decoding dictionary). In a Onomasiological dictionary, one can find many words that share the same or similar meaning; whereas in a Semasiological dictionary, one usually get some explanation about the word.

2. Meaning of Dictionaries

Dictionaries are texts. Texts have meaning. Therefore, dictionaries have meaning. That is to say, dictionaries are signs. --> Dictionaries can be applied to the sign model. In the following graphic we'll find the meanings of dictionaries----information:

3. Information in Dictionaries

Usually, a dictionary contains the following information: Metedata provides catalogue information about the production of the dictionary, intended for dictionary identification; while there are three types of lexical information in dictionary entries:
– FORM (cf. appearance), e.g. spelling, pronunciation
– STRUCTURE (cf. formulation), e.g. construction of
words, place of words in larger constructions (e.g.
sentences)
– CONTENT (cf. meaning):
● definition
● relations with other words
● examples

4. Dictionaries & Sign Model

However, dictionaries are not signs only. They also describe signs (words).

All above are quoted from the notes of the lecture given by Dr. Gibbon.

1. What is a dictionary?

A: A dictionary is a book of alphabetically listed words in a specific language, with good definitions, etymologies, pronunciations, and other information; or a book of alphabetically listed words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a lexicon.

2. What kinds of dictionary are there?

A: Generally speaking, there are monolingual dictionaries, bilingual dictionaries, data dictionaries and specialized dictionaries.

3. What is the difference between a semasiological dictionary and an onomasiological dictionary?

A: See to "Summary".

4: What other kinds of dictionaries are there?

A: There are various opportunities to make a website. It is possible to run an own web server (like APACHE), use the university website, create an own website or register a weblog.

5. What is Text Linguistics?

A: Text linguistics is a branch of linguistics that deals with texts as communication systems . Its original aims lay in uncovering and describing text grammars . The application of text linguistics has, however, evolved from this approach to a point in which text is viewed in much broader terms that go beyond a mere extension of traditional grammar towards an entire text. Text linguistics takes into account the form of a text, but also its setting, i.e. the way in which it is situated in an interactional, communicative context. Both the author of a (written or spoken) text as well as its addressee are taken into consideration in their respective (social and/or institutonal) roles in the specific communicative context. In general it is an application of linguistic analysis at the much broader level of text, rather than just a sentence or word. (Wikipedia)

6. What is Applied Text Linguistics?

A: A website is an online document connected to the web and available for everybody. It is written as a hypertext document with embedded documents and also with linked document objects. Therefore it is a text.

7. What is a hypertext? Give Examples!

A: A hypertext document is a non-linear text that serves as a user-interface paradigm in computing. As the prefix hyper- (Gr.: over or beyond) indicates, it goes beyond the constraints of traditional linear text. A hypertext document consists of

• either conventional hierachical parts
• or complex networks of parts

and incorporates cross-references to other documents called hyperlinks. When hyperlinks are being activated, the computer can load and display linked documents. The most famous implementation of hypertext is the World Wide Web that allows for navigation through hypertext documents from all over the world.

Examples are Hypertext Markup Languages like XHTML, HTML, TeX (LaTeX).

8. What is a text, what are its main properties?

A: See to "Summaries" above.

9. How do these properties relate to the mind and to the world?

A: The properties of text structure, i.e. grammar and syntax (formulation), are abstract rules that belong to the world of the mind. The properties of semantics and pragmatics (meaning) and media (rendering, appearance) belong to the shared world as they are linked to application and manifestation and contexts and conventions.

Evaluation

Sh....Definition, as far as I know, is one of our professor's favorite topic. But truly, before one get down to one domain, one must have an idea of its definition. In this lecture, the most important definition we learn is the standard definition of a dictionary, namely, X is Y kind of Z.

Reference

• Gibbon, Dafydd. "Definition." 22.10.2007. University of Bielefeld. 23.10.2007 <http://wwwhomes.uni-bielefeld.de/~gibbon/Classes/Classes2007WS/HTMD/htmd02-definitions-v01a.pdf>.