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20 Lexicography

  • Sally Rice
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Abstract

This chapter addresses aspects of lexical representation for morphologically complex and oral languages like those spoken in Native North America, especially in the context of community-based dictionary development for purposes of language revitalization. It summarizes some exemplary models for overall dictionary organization and illustrates different practices in terms of content and format found in individual dictionary entries for a small range of lexical types across a handful of languages. It advocates for the inclusion of lexical units smaller and larger than single words as well as both literal and figurative glosses in documentary by-products such as dictionaries and phrasebooks so as to help learners “crack the code”, morphosemantically speaking, of their heritage language.

Abstract

This chapter addresses aspects of lexical representation for morphologically complex and oral languages like those spoken in Native North America, especially in the context of community-based dictionary development for purposes of language revitalization. It summarizes some exemplary models for overall dictionary organization and illustrates different practices in terms of content and format found in individual dictionary entries for a small range of lexical types across a handful of languages. It advocates for the inclusion of lexical units smaller and larger than single words as well as both literal and figurative glosses in documentary by-products such as dictionaries and phrasebooks so as to help learners “crack the code”, morphosemantically speaking, of their heritage language.

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