History and Theory
What is lexicography?
The practice of compiling, writing, and editing dictionaries.
What type of dictionary focuses on word meanings and definitions?
A general or monolingual dictionary focuses on word meanings and definitions.
Who compiled the first comprehensive English dictionary, published in 1755?
Samuel Johnson.
What was the primary focus of English dictionaries before the 18th century?
Focus was on spelling and Latin translations rather than full definitions.
When was the first edition of the OED completed?
1928.
What is a corpus and why is it important in lexicography?
A corpus is a large collection of texts used to analyze language usage.
What is a bilingual dictionary used for?
A bilingual dictionary translates words between two languages.
Which lexicographer was the primary editor of the Oxford English Dictionary?
James Murray.
When was Samuel Johnson’s A Dictionary of the English Language published?
1755.
How many volumes did the original OED consist of?
10 volumes.
What is the significance of semantic tagging in digital lexicography?
It enables precise searching and linking of meanings in digital dictionaries.
What distinguishes a learner’s dictionary from a general dictionary?
Learner’s dictionaries provide simplified definitions, usage notes, and examples tailored for language learners.
Who created the first American English dictionary and is famous for his large dictionary published in 1828?
Noah Webster.
What dictionary marked the first major dictionary in American English?
Noah Webster’s dictionary (1828).
What makes the OED a historical dictionary?
It documents the history and evolution of words over time.
What is a specialized dictionary? Give an example.
A specialized dictionary covers terms of a specific field, e.g., a medical dictionary.
What is dictionary aggregator?
A dictionary aggregator is a tool or system that collects and combines multiple dictionaries from various sources, often web-based, into a single platform.
Which lexicographer was a pioneer in creating learner’s dictionaries in the 20th century?
A.S. Hornby.
What feature makes the Oxford English Dictionary a historical dictionary?
It presents the earliest recorded sense of a word first and then lists its other meanings in chronological order, supported by illustrative quotations showing the word's usage and evolution over time.
Who was the first editor-in-chief of the OED?
James Murray.
What type of information can the pronunciation part of an entry include?
It includes phonetic transcription and sometimes audio pronunciation.
What is the difference between collaborative and crowdsourced dictionary?
The difference between collaborative and crowdsourced dictionaries lies primarily in how contributors work together:
A collaborative dictionary involves a group of people working jointly and interactively on the dictionary project. They coordinate efforts, share resources, and often engage in real-time collaboration to co-create or edit dictionary content.
A crowdsourced dictionary gathers input from a large, often undefined group of users (the "crowd") who contribute independently.
Name some of the modern female lexicographers.
Erin McKean
What is a historic dictionary covering 500+ years of English slang with extensive citations?
Green's Dictionary of Slang
How has the OED changed in its recent editions?
It has been updated digitally with new words, meanings, and multimedia content.
It has been updated digitally with new words, meanings, and multimedia content.