Chapter 4. Innovation in monolingual English learner’s dictionaries
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Reinhard Heuberger
Abstract
80 years have passed since the publication of A. S. Hornby et al.’s Idiomatic and syntactic English dictionary (1942), which was reprinted a few years later by Oxford University Press as A learner’s dictionary of current English (1948). Hornby et al.’s publication firmly established a new and distinct genre of dictionary that has been at the forefront of lexicographic innovation during the past decades. This paper examines the historical development of selected key features of monolingual English learner’s dictionaries, focussing on major innovations and their significance for the users. It concentrates on areas such as defining vocabularies and definitions, grammar and usage, example sentences and the use of corpora, and also briefly touches upon electronic learner’s dictionaries.
Abstract
80 years have passed since the publication of A. S. Hornby et al.’s Idiomatic and syntactic English dictionary (1942), which was reprinted a few years later by Oxford University Press as A learner’s dictionary of current English (1948). Hornby et al.’s publication firmly established a new and distinct genre of dictionary that has been at the forefront of lexicographic innovation during the past decades. This paper examines the historical development of selected key features of monolingual English learner’s dictionaries, focussing on major innovations and their significance for the users. It concentrates on areas such as defining vocabularies and definitions, grammar and usage, example sentences and the use of corpora, and also briefly touches upon electronic learner’s dictionaries.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Information about the authors vii
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Introduction
- Chapter 1. How can perspectives from Applied Linguistic Historiography improve our understanding of innovation? 2
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Part I. Product innovation
- Chapter 2. Tart–scriblita–torta–torte–torta–tortilha: A piece of cake! 24
- Chapter 3. Teaching phraseology in the 19th century 43
- Chapter 4. Innovation in monolingual English learner’s dictionaries 59
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Part II. Innovation through scientific discovery
- Chapter 5. La linguistique appliquée 82
- Chapter 6. Classroom-oriented teacher research in modern languages 104
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Part III. Oscillations along a continuum
- Chapter 7. Change without innovation? 122
- Chapter 8. “Reflection on language” 137
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Part IV. Adaptation in specific contexts
- Chapter 9. Describing and learning the Chinese languages 164
- Chapter 10. Curriculum innovation through concept borrowing 180
- Chapter 11. Beyond written texts 199
- Index 217
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Information about the authors vii
-
Introduction
- Chapter 1. How can perspectives from Applied Linguistic Historiography improve our understanding of innovation? 2
-
Part I. Product innovation
- Chapter 2. Tart–scriblita–torta–torte–torta–tortilha: A piece of cake! 24
- Chapter 3. Teaching phraseology in the 19th century 43
- Chapter 4. Innovation in monolingual English learner’s dictionaries 59
-
Part II. Innovation through scientific discovery
- Chapter 5. La linguistique appliquée 82
- Chapter 6. Classroom-oriented teacher research in modern languages 104
-
Part III. Oscillations along a continuum
- Chapter 7. Change without innovation? 122
- Chapter 8. “Reflection on language” 137
-
Part IV. Adaptation in specific contexts
- Chapter 9. Describing and learning the Chinese languages 164
- Chapter 10. Curriculum innovation through concept borrowing 180
- Chapter 11. Beyond written texts 199
- Index 217
