Reconceptualizing Lexicography: The Broad Understanding

Patrick Leroyer, Henrik Køhler Simonsen

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Abstract

Lexicography has changed radically over the past 20 years and numerous scholars have discussed in a vast number of theoretical contributions whether lexicography is a science of its own and how it should be defined. But has the whole idea oflexicography, the way we see it in the first place, also changed? Is lexicography all about dictionaries one way or another? Can it be understood differently? In this light, the purpose of our paper is to propose a broad understanding spurred by the closing remark in Adamska-Salaciak’s article on lexicography and theory as follows ‘theoretical lexicography in its present form is unlikely to offer anysuch theoretical perspective’, cf. (Adamska-Salaciak 2018:14). We do not wish to continue the somewhat tautological discussion of whether lexicographic is a science or not, and bring in yet another definition. Instead, we intend to take Adamska-Salaciak up on her call for further theory development and introduce a reconceptualization of lexicography founded on a social-constructivist position paving the way to a broad understanding. In ourdiscussion, we have drawn on established, seminal lexicographic theory, but reconceptualization requires a break with current views. Consequently, we have also drawn on theories discussed in (Simonsen 2012), (Christensen 2017), (Fadelet al. 2015), (Leroyer & Simonsen 2018a), (Leroyer & Simonsen 2018b),(Liew 2013), (Osterwalder & Pigneur 2010), (Osterwalder et al. 2014) and (Weil & Woerner 2018) etc. Elaborating on the model of (Verlinde et al.2010) and (Simonsen 2012), we explain how what we call ‘lexicographic meaning-construction processes’ are at the heart of lexicography. In this light, we present a seven-faced model showing how current and novel elements of lexicographic theory interplay and can be reinterpreted.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of XIX EURALEX Congress : Lexicography for Inclusion. Volume 1
EditorsZoe Gavriilidou, Maria Mitsiaki, Asimakis Fliatouras
Place of PublicationLjubljana
PublisherLjubljana University Press
Publication date2020
Pages183-192
ISBN (Print) 9786188513815
Publication statusPublished - 2020
Event19th EURALEX International Congress: Lexicography for Inclusion - Ramada Plaza Thraki, Alexandropoulis, Greece
Duration: 8 Sept 202012 Sept 2020
Conference number: 19
https://euralex2020.gr/

Conference

Conference19th EURALEX International Congress
Number19
LocationRamada Plaza Thraki
Country/TerritoryGreece
CityAlexandropoulis
Period08/09/202012/09/2020
Internet address
SeriesEURALEX Proceedings
ISSN2521-7100

Keywords

  • Social-constructivist position
  • Reconceptualization
  • Lexicographic meaning-construction processes
  • Seven-faced model

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