Representation in the dictionary:
definition and illustration
1. Explanation of definition types
2. Modells of classification
Chemnitz University of Technology WS 06/07
English Language and Linguistics
Proseminar: Dictionaries – Concept and Use
Lecturer: Kerstin May
Presenter: Anja Krumbiegel
Date: 4/11 December 2006
1. Explanation of definition types
3. Illustration
4. Exercise
• Paraphrases
~ statement that expresses sth that sb has written or
said using different words, especially in order to make
it easier to understand <OALD6>
Function and form of definitions:
- function: representation of word meaning
- task: to give user a precise imagination of the meaning
of a word (through)
Æ try to explain the meaning OR
Æ identify by the word explained things
(denotatum* by Lyons (1977))
Möwe ... (am Meer u. An Seen od. Flüssen lebender)
mittelgroßer, gut schwimmender Vogel mit vorwiegend
weißem Gefieder, hakig gebogenem Schnabel, schmalen,
am Ende zugespitzten Flügeln u. Schwimmhäuten
zwischen den Vorderzehen <DUW3>
gull noun a seabird with long wings and usually with white and
grey or black feathers. There are several types: ... <OALD6>
* denotatum = definiendum
Æ rewriting names
• regarded as moving from expressional aspect to content
aspect and going back to expressional side and
represent content by a different name from the original
• frequently used type of verbs and phrases
• seldom for nouns
!! - paraphrases in full sentences are rather confusing
content
and too long
expression 1
(headword/phrase)
expression 2
(paraphrase)
-
important information not easy to find
1
• Synonym or near-synonym
~ a word or expression that has the same or nearly the
same meaning as another in the same language
<OALD6>
Falter ... Schmetterling <DUW5>
big ... large <OALD6>
- can differ on frequency, region, style, ...
barbie noun (BrE, AustralE, informal) =BARBECUE
<OALD6>
• complete synonyms:
- two words are equivalent in all three aspects
- most usual in technical terminology
e.g. nanometre – millimicron
• three aspects: - denotative, connotative meaning
and range of application
denotative: ‘real’ meaning (‘objective’, ‘cognitive’)
connotative: rise to certain association and have a
extra meaning (‘subjective’, ‘emotive’)
range of application: status of a word belonging to
general or technical language and
occurrence at various style levels
+
Æ save space
Æ used if need for semantic precision is not
to great
• near-synonyms:
- two words are only denotatively equivalent
e.g.: excellent – great – super
• use: one synonym for the headword or several
• rule-based (usage) information
- meanings and uses of the word in form of rules and
principles defined
Teufelskerl … verwendet als Bezeichnung für e-n Mann, dessen
Mut man bewundert <LGDaF 2003>
hello! … 1 used as a greeting when you meet sb, when you answer
the Telephone or when you want to attract sb’s attention …
2 used to show that you are surprised by sth ... <OALD6>
Æ be aware of multiple meanings of
synonyms
Æ function of word is described and examples given
- definitions of function words and interjections’
• encyclopaedic information
euro ... (since1999) a unit of money of some countries of
the European Union <OALD6>
Kölnischwasser ... (ursprünglich nur in Köln hergestelltes)
Duftwasser unter Verwendung
ätherischer Öle aus Zitrone, Bergamotte
u.a. <DUW5>
2
• True definition
parts of definition:
- concept, called definiendum
represented by the headword
- definition, verbal description of the concept
= so called definiens
Intensional definition (analytical)
Svensén (1993: 122):
The process of definition involves stating the
superordinate concept next to the definiendum (genus
proximum) together with at least one distinctive feature
typical of the definiendum (differnetia specifica). The
superordinate concept specifies the class containing the
definiendum as one element. The distinctive features
specify in which ways the definiendum differs from other
elements in the same class
types of true definition:
- intensional
- extensional
= combination of the distinctive features
which the concept comprises
• refers to content of concept
• expresses generic conceptual relationships
• concepts are arranged in classes according to
similarities and differences
• Æ stating superordinate concepts next to definiendum
(=genus proximum)
• Æ plus adding distinctive features typical of the
definiendum (=differentia specifica)
- superordinate concept: specifies the class containing the
definiendum
- distinctive features: specifies how the definiendum differs
from others
grind
• establishes a hierarchical system: superordinate,
subordinate and co-ordinate concepts
divide into pieces
in a mill
genus proximum
differentia specifica
definiendum
• should include as many distinctive features to differ from
other members (e.g. grind from chop or shred)
• often only genus proximum is given (1) or one or two
distinctive features (2)
e.g. (1) gull n. a seabird
(2) gull n. a seabird with long wings ...
• used for nouns definition
!! begin with indefinite article otherwise taken as a
paraphrase (e.g. not every seabird is a gull)
definiens
Æ Extensional
= combination of all separate elements or classes which
the concept comprises
• refers to range of concepts
• listing all concepts that are include in the definiendum
e.g. motor vehicle n. car, motor cycle, moped, van, ...
Nordic Country n. Sweden, Norway, Denmark,
Finland, ...
• (incorrectly) relation to separate parts belonging to a
whole
e.g. Benelux n. Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg
3
• often use of both definition types
e.g. furniture ... objects that can be moved, such as tables,
chairs and beds, that are put into a house or an office
to make it suitable for living or working in .... <OALD6>
Æ leads to prototype semantic
• prototype semantic
- try to explain meaning through examples
• typifying definition
- contain a genus proximum and characteristic features
Æ information on what is typical of the referent
- function and use important
e.g. windscreen whiper n. a blade with a rubber edge that
moves across a windscreen to make it clear of rain,
snow, etc. <OALD6>
• ‘blade’: genus term
• ‘that moves across a windscreen to make it clear of rain, snow, etc.’:
characteristic features
- often use for nouns, even more than analytical ones
• Hybrid Form
- consists of true definition or paraphrase followed by
one or more synonyms
e.g. flexible adj. that will blend without breaking (=true
definition), pliable, pliant, easily led, manageable,
adaptable, versatile, supple, complaisant (=synonyms)
!! use with caution Æ misleading user by using true
definition in connection with near-synonyms (could think
of true synonyms)
big ... [large] 1 large in size, degree, amount, etc...
<OALD6>
Inventur ... Bestandsaufnahme, Aufstellung eines
Inventars <WDW7>
- provides user with a rough picture of the headword’s
range of meanings
2. Modells of classification:
Rey-Debove:
nouns and verbs 1.) inclusion
2.) analysis
3.) synonyms
4.) opposition
5.) metalanguage definition
adjectives: defined with relative clauses, participle
constructions and prepositional phrases
Hanks:
a) use of headword:
explanatory strategies: 1.) A x is ...
2.) X is ... for uncountable
nouns
3.) To x means ...
4.) if you x, ... for verbs
b) meaning of headword
- concentrate on metaphors, figurative meanings and
idiomatic expressions
- emphasis on typical characteristics of the definiendum than
on distinctive features
4
Svensén:
Herbst and Klotz:
1.) paraphrases and synonyms or near-synonyms
1.) paraphrases
2.) synonyms or near-synonyms
3.) combination of paraphrase and synonym
4.) pragmatic information
5.) encyclopaedic information
2.) true definitions
intensional
extensional
3.) hybrid form
types:
4.) description of the headword`s function and use
- subsumes paraphrases and synonyms as one
- consider analytical definition as the basic or classical
one
analytical
ReyDebove
Battenburg
inclusion
analytical
Hanks
Herbst/
Klotz
intensional
true def.
Æextensional
extensional
paraphrase
+ synonym
or nearsynonym
paraphrase
A x is...
typifying
X is ...
synthetic
synthetic
paraphrase/
metalanguage
metalanguage
definition
synonym
synonym
rule based usage
other
To x
means...
If you x ...
synonym
rule-giving
opposition
synonym,
near-synon.
function,
use of
headword
usage
information
hybrid form
prototypical
encyclopaedic
paraphrase
+synonym
3. Illustration:
verbal
www.tu-chemnitz.de/phil/english/chairs/linguist/documents/may_dictos.pdf
analysis
Svensén
true def.
Æintensional
intensional
extensional
prototypical
- resemble one another
- some are identical
- almost all include analytical
information
- others synthetic or extensional
definition
- separation of paraphrases from
synonyms
- contain rule-based definition
• graphics should be known by the user
graphic, sound and multimedia files
• explanation of meaning through references to
prototypical examples
• good, when word is not easy to verbalise
• illustrates what is explained
e.g. fork […] either of two metal supporting
pieces into which a wheel on a
bicycle or motorcycle is fitted
• to supplement information in definition
• show entry word in context
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4. Exercise:
a) jeans noun [pl.]
trousers/pants made of strong cotton,
especially DENIM: […] From Janne,
the Old French name for Genoa, where
the heavy cotton now used for jeans
was first made
http://home.tiscali.nl/edwinsel/pics/travel/woordenboek,fiets,eng.gif
- intensional true definition
trousers/pants as general term/genus proximum
made of strong cotton, especially DENIM as distinctive
feature which demarcate it from other pants
- encyclopaedic information
which shows the origin of the name
in OALD given
DENIM: […] ORIGIN From Janne…
b) vegetable noun
1 (also informal veggie especially in
AmE) a plant or part of a plant that is
eaten as food. Potatoes, beans and
onions are all vegetables: […]
- synonym
trousers/pants
- intensional mixed with extensional definition
intensional:
a plant or part of a plant as general term/genus
proximum
that is eaten as food as distinctive feature which
demarcate it from other plants
extensional:
Potatoes, beans and onions are all vegetables:
are separate elements which the headword comprises
c) earthquake noun
a sudden, violent shaking of the earth‘s
surface […]
Æ prototype semantic
- synonym
also informal veggie expression of vegetable used in
America
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Sources:
• Herbst, T./M. Klotz (2003): Lexikografie. Paderborn: Verlag
Ferdinand Schöningh GmbH
• Jackson, H. (2005): Lexicography: An Introduction. London:
Routledge
• May, K. (2006): English Monolingual Advanced Learners’
Dictionaries on CD-ROM: A Comparative Evaluation.
Zugriff 7. November 2006 <http://www.tuchemnitz.de/phil/english/chairs/linguist/documents/may_dictos.pdf>
• Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary – Sixth edition (2000): Oxford
University Press
• Sterkenburg, P. G. J. van (2003): A practical guide to lexicography.
Amsterdam: Benjamins
• Svensén, B. (1993): Practical Lexicography: Principles and Methods
of Dictionary-Making. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Examples without a source given are taken from Svensén: Practical Lexicography
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