EDD Online - Quick Reference Guide
I. Standard search:
To perform a search for a string, click on the input box in the top left corner of the search
mask and type in the search item. Then either click on the GO button or press RETURN to
execute the search. The red arrows in the screenshot below mark the exact location of the
search window and the GO button.
The hits are listed in the SEARCH RESULTS column on the left hand side of the search
mask. By clicking on a hit, the corresponding full dictionary entry is provided in the ENTRY
column on the right hand side of the search mask.
Note: Searches can also be performed without typing in a search string, namely by using
SEARCH FILTERS. This search facility will be described in greater detail in section II.
Search Filters.
1. Simple search
This is the default mode, allowing the user to either work in the HEADWORD or the FULL
TEXT search mode.
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1.1 Headword search:
Click on the HEADWORD box (= default) to limit a search to headwords (or
lemmata). Unlike many modern dictionaries, the EDD does not list compounds and
derivations as headwords.
1.2 Full text search:
Click on the FULL TEXT box to perform the search within the entire dictionary.
2. Advanced Search
Click on the ADVANCED button to open a menu of advanced search options.
The search mask then provides the following eight search field options, all of which limit the
scope of the search to certain parts of the entry structure:
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2.1 Definitions
Click on the DEFINITIONS box to perform the search only within the definitions.
2.2 Citations
Click on the CITATIONS box to perform the search only within the citations (i.e.
example sentences illustrating the usage of a word or phrase).
2.3 Comments
Click on the COMMENTS box to perform the search only within the comments (i.e.
Wright's explanatory remarks given within self-contained sections of the entry
structure, often providing information on etymology, word formation or crossreferences).
2.4 Variants
Click on the VARIANTS box to perform the search only within the list of variants
(i.e. spelling variants of headwords). If no search string is entered, a click on the GO
button will retrieve the complete list of variants.
2.5 Compounds
Click on the COMPOUNDS box to perform the search only within the list of
compounds (i.e. words consisting of two or more free morphemes, e.g. 'firewood').
Search strings can then be entered. If no search string is entered, a click on the GO
button will retrieve the complete list of compounds.
2.6 Derivations
Click on the DERIVATIONS box to perform the search only within the list of
derivations (i.e. words consisting of a free morpheme and one or more bound
morphemes, e.g. 'discharge'). If no search string is entered, a click on the GO button
will retrieve the complete list of derivations.
2.7 Combinations
Click on the COMBINATIONS box to perform the search only within the list of
combinations (a heterogeneous collection of mainly compounds and phrases, labelled
as such by Wright). Search strings can then be entered. If no search string is entered, a
click on the GO button will retrieve the complete list of combinations.
2.8 Phrases
Click on the PHRASES box to perform the search only within the list of phrases. If no
search string is entered, a click on the GO button will retrieve the complete list of
phrases.
II. Filter search:
Filters are a device for refining a search by pre-selecting the criteria according to which the
hit list is generated. They allow the user, for example, to locate only those headwords which
are marked as 'noun', 'figurative' or 'slang'. In EDD Online, several filters can be switched on
simultaneously. The search mask currently provides the following search filters:
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1. Dialect area
The search-mask mirrors the geographical classification of dialect areas as used in the EDD,
providing dialect labels for nations, regions and counties. Dictionary users can employ the
Boolean operators AND as well as OR within this submenu. AND means that all marked
dialect areas must apply.
Some dialect labels include the button , which stands for 'partial/fuzzy'. This button allows
to locate information which only relates to certain parts of a dialect area, e.g. 'north
Yorkshire', as well as information which cannot be allocated precisely, e.g. 'in some parts of
England'.
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The OK button, which is located next to the Boolean operators, only has to be clicked if other
search filters need to be selected. Otherwise, the dictionary user can directly click on the GO
button to perform the search.
The tripartite distinction of dialect areas is briefly explained in the following:
1.1 Nations
Select a certain NATION to retrieve only those entries which contain that nation label.
Search strings can additionally be entered. Note: Wright's list of nations is selective
and limited to the following nine countries / continents: America, Australia, Canada,
England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.
1.2 Regions
Select a certain REGION to retrieve only those entries which contain that region
label. In the search mask, regions are listed alphabetically under the nation to which
they belong geographically. Search strings can additionally be entered.
1.3 Counties
Select a certain COUNTY to retrieve only those entries which contain that county
label. In the search mask, counties are listed alphabetically under the nation to which
they belong geographically. Search strings can additionally be entered. Note: Wright's
classification of counties was, of course, the traditional one used before the reform of
1974.
2. Part of speech
The search-mask provides part of speech filters for word class, morphology and syntax. This
categorisation has been devised by our project team in line with modern approaches to
linguistics. Some of the labels that occur within these three fields were not used as labels by
Wright. Due to the fact that they keep recurring within the dictionary (e.g. in the definitions),
we have, however, decided to include them as search filters. Dictionary users can employ the
Boolean operators AND as well as OR within this submenu.
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The tripartite distinction of part of speech labels is briefly explained in the following:
2.1 Word class
Select a certain WORD CLASS filter to retrieve only those entries which contain that
word class label. Search strings can additionally be entered.
2.2 Morphology
Select a certain MORPHOLOGY filter to retrieve only those entries which contain
that morphology label. Search strings can additionally be entered.
2.3 Syntax
Select a certain SYNTAX filter to retrieve only those entries which contain that syntax
label. Search strings can additionally be entered.
3. Phonetic
The phonetic filter, which will be implemented at a later stage, will allow queries for the
phonetic symbols used in the EDD.
4. Etymology
The search-mask provides the etymological labels as used in the EDD. It needs to be pointed
out, however, that Wright did not always use these labels to explain the origin and history of a
term. In many cases, they refer to somehow similar or related terms in other languages.
Dictionary users can employ the Boolean operators AND as well as OR within this submenu.
5. Usage label
The search-mask provides usage labels for frequency, semantics and pragmatics. This
categorisation has been devised by our project team in line with modern approaches to
linguistics. Many of the labels that occur within these fields were not used as labels by
Wright. Due to the fact, however, that they keep recurring within the dictionary (e.g. in the
definitions), we have decided to include them as search filters. Dictionary users can employ
the Boolean operators AND as well as OR within this submenu.
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The tripartite distinction of usage labels is briefly explained in the following:
5.1 Frequency
Select a certain FREQUENCY filter to retrieve only those entries which contain that
frequency label. Search strings can additionally be entered.
5.2 Semantics
Select a certain SEMANTICS filter to retrieve only those entries which contain that
semantic label. Search strings can additionally be entered.
5.3 Pragmatics
Select a certain PRAGMATICS filter to retrieve only those entries which contain that
pragmatic label. Search strings can additionally be entered.
6. Source
The search-mask mirrors the source labels as used in the EDD, including printed and
unprinted collections, correspondents as well as literary sources. This feature has not been
fully implemented in the current version of EDD Online. Dictionary users can employ the
Boolean operators AND as well as OR within this submenu.
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6.1 Printed collections
Select a certain PRINTED COLLECTION filter to retrieve only those entries which
contain the corresponding label. Search strings can additionally be entered.
6.2 Unprinted collections
Select a certain UNPRINTED COLLECTION filter to retrieve only those entries
which contain the corresponding label. Search strings can additionally be entered.
6.3 Correspondents
Select a certain CORRESPONDENT filter to retrieve only those entries which
contain a reference to corresponding label. Search strings can additionally be entered.
6.4 Literary sources
Select a certain LITERARY SOURCE filter to retrieve only those entries which
contain a reference to the corresponding literary source. Search strings can
additionally be entered.
7. Morphemic
The morphemic filter, which will be implemented at a later stage, will allow queries for bound
morphemes in the EDD.
8. Time span
The time span filter, which will be implemented at a later stage, will allow queries for terms
that were used during the selected period of time. This function is based on the dates provided
for sources which are indicated within the citations sections. The time span filter allows, for
example, to retrieve those terms which have a recorded usage during the second half of the
18th century.
The results of the time span search will have to be interpreted very carefully though. Strictly
speaking, one can only conclude from a given date that a certain term was used in the year
mentioned in the citation – but not how long the terms was used before or after that year.
III. Special functions
The menu bar at the top of the search mask has the following functions:
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1. Home
A click on the HOME button restarts the search-mask. This is advisable if the program hangs
up or if a search takes too long.
2. Maps
This function will be implemented at a later stage. We are planning to provide dialect maps
which illustrate the geographical distribution of dialectal usage.
3. Export
This function will be implemented at a later stage. A click on the EXPORT button will allow
the user to copy dictionary entries, result lists as well as query syntax to the clipboard so that
it can be pasted into other applications.
4. Print
This function will be implemented at a later stage. A click on the PRINT button will allow
the user to print dictionary entries, result lists as well as query syntax.
5. Help
A click on the Help button opens the Quick Reference Guide.
6. About
A click on this button provides background information on the SPEED project, which created
EDD Online.
7. Contact
This function allows users to get in contact with the project team. We are grateful for any
suggestions for improvement and will answer technical questions concerning EDD Online.
IV. Known Issues
In the current beta-version of EDD Online, several functions have not been implemented yet,
and certain parts of the dictionary still require editing and proof-reading. In particular,
orthographical mistakes (especially within the citations) and occasional parsing errors (i.e.
structural errors) need to be reckoned with. In addition, complex (filter) queries will not
always provide perfectly adequate results.
Despite these known deficiencies, we have decided to release this beta-version to allow early
access to interested users. We also hope to obtain valuable feedback for the ongoing
improvement of the online version. The dictionary is constantly being refined by our project
team.
EDD Online currently requires Mozilla Firefox and has been optimised for a screen resolution
of 1024 x 768. We are working on extending its compatibility with other standard Internet
browsers.
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