LEXICOGRAPHY AS A SCIENTIFIC FIELD
Keywords:
disciplinary status of lexicography, meaning of words, componential analysis of meaning, definitional method of analysis, OED, theory of lexicography, lexicographic practice, teaching lexicography, academic discipline,Abstract
This article deals with some questions related to the disciplinary status of Lexicography. We draw on the opinions of L.Zgusta, R.Ilsson, H.Wiegand, R.Gouws, H.Bergenholtz, S.Tarp,R. Lew and others who argue in favour of the view that lexicography constitutes a science and that the work on a dictionary constitutes a scientific activity.
The main topics discussed in this paper include understanding the complexity of word meaning, how dictionaries play a role in the description of word meaning, and developing lexical semantics.
We also focus on the definition method of lexicography which is based on an examination of dictionary definitions, elements of lexicographic theory, the relationship between lexicographic theories and practice, and how lexicography is taught as an academic discipline in universities.
The article makes the case that, in this age of globalization, having the appropriate lexicography approach and disciplinary standing is especially crucial. The future of many languages, especially those with lower usage rates, can only be secured by cutting-edge lexicographic and corpus resources, which can only be developed once lexicography is properly acknowledged as a science with a "big interdisciplinary vocation" (Tarp 2017); that is, until lexicography is elevated to the status of an academic discipline through advanced lexicographic theory, lexicography instruction at universities, and other means.
References
Béjoint, H. 2010. The Lexicography of English. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Bergenholtz, H. and R.H. Gouws. 2012. What is Lexicography? Lexikos 22: 31-42.
Bothma, T.J.D., R.H. Gouws and D.J. Prinsloo. 2016. The Role of e-Lexicography in the Confirmation of Lexicography as an Independent and Multidisciplinary Field. Margalitadze, T. and G. Meladze (Eds.). 2016. Proceedings of the XVII EURALEX International Congress. Lexicography and Linguistic Diversity, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia, 6–10 September, 2016: 109-116. Tbilisi: Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. Available at: http://euralex. org/category/publications/euralex-2016/.
(CEGD) Margalitadze, T. (Editor-in-chief), G. Meladze, A. Chanturia et al. 1995–2012. Comprehensive English–Georgian Dictionary (Vol. I–XIV); the Online Version www.dict.ge. Tbilisi: Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Lexicographic Centre.
(EGBD) Khundadze, G., G. Meladze, T. Margalitadze et al. (Eds.). 2014. English–Georgian Biology Online Dictionary. http://bio.dict.ge. Tbilisi: Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Lexicographic Centre.
Wiegand, H.E. 1984. On the Structure and Contents of a General Theory of Lexicography. Hartmann, R.R.K. (Ed.). 1984. LEXeter '83 Proceedings. Papers from the International Conference on Lexicography at Exeter, 9–12 September 1983: 13-30. Tübingen: Max Niemeyer.
Williams, G. 2016. In Praise of Lexicography, and Lexicographers. Margalitadze, T. and G. Meladze (Eds.). 2016. Proceedings of the XVII EURALEX International Congress: Lexicography and Linguistic Diversity, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia, 6–10 September, 2016: 77-88. Tbilisi: Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. Available at http://euralex.org/category/ publications/euralex-2016/.
Zgusta, L. 1971. Manual of Lexicography. Prague: Academia / The Hague: Mouton.
