Bringing data and dictionary together
-
Geoffrey Williams
Abstract
This chapter looks at how general language dictionaries may be extended by using prototype theory to take into account specialised usage, and how a specialised pattern dictionary can be built bottom-up from a corpus. Following an analysis of the role of science in current learner’s dictionaries, a study of how existing entries can be improved using corpus data and lexicographical prototypes will be shown. The main thrust is a corpus-driven approach to extending current dictionaries so as to highlight the particular production environment of the scientific article and also to build a new dictionary using collocational networks for both word selection and as an exploratory tool. Such a dictionary is termed ‘organic’ in that it grows naturally from the corpus data. Keywords: special language dictionaries; collocational networks; phraseology; prototypes; natural ontology
Abstract
This chapter looks at how general language dictionaries may be extended by using prototype theory to take into account specialised usage, and how a specialised pattern dictionary can be built bottom-up from a corpus. Following an analysis of the role of science in current learner’s dictionaries, a study of how existing entries can be improved using corpus data and lexicographical prototypes will be shown. The main thrust is a corpus-driven approach to extending current dictionaries so as to highlight the particular production environment of the scientific article and also to build a new dictionary using collocational networks for both word selection and as an exploratory tool. Such a dictionary is termed ‘organic’ in that it grows naturally from the corpus data. Keywords: special language dictionaries; collocational networks; phraseology; prototypes; natural ontology
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Issues in corpus-informed research and learning in ESP 1
-
Part I. ESP corpora for language research
- From text to corpus 17
- Phraseological patterns in a large corpus of biomedical articles 45
- A corpus-based study of adjectival vs nominal modification in medical English 83
- Semantic prosody and specialised translation, or how a lexico-grammatical theory of language can help with specialised translation 103
-
Part II. ESP corpora for genre-based approaches
- Oralising text slides in scientific conference presentations 137
- Corpora and academic writing 167
- Measuring the construction of discoursal expertise through corpus-based genre analysis 193
-
Part III. ESP corpora for language teaching and learning
- Bringing data and dictionary together 217
- Raising collective awareness of rhetorical strategies 239
- Corpus consultation for ESP 261
- Notes on contributors 293
- Author index 297
- Subject index 301
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Issues in corpus-informed research and learning in ESP 1
-
Part I. ESP corpora for language research
- From text to corpus 17
- Phraseological patterns in a large corpus of biomedical articles 45
- A corpus-based study of adjectival vs nominal modification in medical English 83
- Semantic prosody and specialised translation, or how a lexico-grammatical theory of language can help with specialised translation 103
-
Part II. ESP corpora for genre-based approaches
- Oralising text slides in scientific conference presentations 137
- Corpora and academic writing 167
- Measuring the construction of discoursal expertise through corpus-based genre analysis 193
-
Part III. ESP corpora for language teaching and learning
- Bringing data and dictionary together 217
- Raising collective awareness of rhetorical strategies 239
- Corpus consultation for ESP 261
- Notes on contributors 293
- Author index 297
- Subject index 301
