Bilingual Lexicography from a Communicative Perspective: (9 Terminology and Lexicography Research and Practice)

This stimulating new book, as the premier work introducing bilingual lexicography from a communicative perspective, is launched to represent original thinking and innovative theorization in the field of bilingual lexicography. It treats the bilingual dictionary as a system of intercultural communication and bilingual dictionary making as a dynamic process realized by sets of choices, characterizing the overall nature of the dictionary. It examines the dictionary and dictionary making by using a model of lexicography which stresses the three-way relationship of compiler, dictionary context and user and incorporates them into a unified coherent framework. Throughout the study, special focus is on English and Chinese bilingual lexicography. It will serve not only as a valuable guide to those interested in dictionary compilation and theoretical inquiries but also as a textbook for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in bilingual lexicography.

Table of Contents:
1. Acknowledgements; 2. Chapter 1. Towards a communicative model of lexicography; 3. 1.1 The nature of the dictionary; 4. 1.2 Lexicography; 5. 1.3 Bilingual lexicography; 6. Chapter 2. Bilingual lexicography: A comparative approach; 7. 2.1 Compiler aspect: Choices of perspectives and purposes; 8. 2.2 Dictionary context; 9. 2.3 User aspect: Language needs and reference skills; 10. Chapter 3. Modern linguistics and bilingual lexicography; 11. 3.1 Grammar and bilingual lexicography; 12. 3.2 Semantics and bilingual lexicography; 13. 3.3 Pragmatics and bilingual lexicography; 14. 3.4 Sociolinguistics and bilingual lexicography; 15. Chapter 4. Bilingual dictionaries: A communicative typology; 16. 4.1 Previous dictionary typologies: A general survey; 17. 4.2 A Communicative typology; 18. Chapter 5. Bilingual dictionaries: A structural description; 19. 5.1 Outside matter structure; 20. 5.2 Macrostructure; 21. 5.3 Microstructure; 22. 5.4 Bidirectionality and reversibility; 23. Chapter 6. Bilingual dictionaries: Fundamental principles; 24. 6.1 General principles; 25. 6.2 Bilingual principles; 26. Chapter 7. Bilingual dictionaries: Problems and reflections; 27. 7.1 Anisomorphism; 28. 7.2 Equivalence presentation; 29. 7.3 Meaning discrimination; 30. 7.4 Grammar; 31. 7.5 Collocation; 32. 7.6 Style and register; 33. 7.7 Exemplification; 34. 7.8 Illustration; 35. 7.9 Glossing; 36. 7.10 Etymology; 37. 7.11 Revision; 38. Chapter 8. Bilingual dictionaries: Ways of handling idioms; 39. 8.1 Idioms: Their features; 40. 8.2 Idioms: Their status; 41. 8.3 Idioms: Their location; 42. 8.4 Idioms: Their translation; 43. 8.5 Idioms: Their grammar and usage; 44. Chapter 9. Bilingual dictionaries: Recommendations and samples; 45. 9.1 Recommendation one: Lexicographic purposes and choices; 46. 9.2 Recommendation two: Active and passive dictionary designs; 47. 9.3 Recommendation three: Macrostrucutral organization; 48. 9.4 Recommendation four: Lexical classes discriminated; 49. 9.5 Recommendation five: Equivalence presentation; 50. 9.6 Recommendation six: Meaning discrimination; 51. 9.7 Recommendation seven: Grammatical description; 52. 9.8 Recommendation eight: Lexical combination; 53. 9.9 Recommendation nine: Labels and glosses; 54. 9.10 Recommendation ten: Exemplification; 55. 9.11 Recommendation eleven: Idiom treatment; 56. 9.12 Recommendation twelve: Word histories; 57. Bibliography; 58. List of major dictionaries cited; 59. Index

Review :
By treating the dictionary as a communicative system and dictionary making as a dynamic process, fresh insights are gained for both editors and readers. Harvesting the fruits of communication studies into lexicographic research, this book initiates an innovative theory of 'the dictionary as communication', examines dictionary compilation and research from an entirely new perspective and enables compilers, users, educators and publishers to look anew at and reassess reference books and reference science. The book is written in a clear, concise style, thus making it an excellent work for both experienced researchers and newcomers interested in blingual dictionaries and the communicative model of lexicography. The contents of the book are coherently structured and presented in a logical progression, allowing the reader to follow the authors' explanations and recommendations easily [...] The book also includes many references to related works and a list of the major dictionaries cited. We would recommend this book without hesitation to anyone interested in the communicative model of lexicography and bilingual dictionaries. In this book we not only get a survey of all the main practical and theoretical issues in lexicography for English and Chinese, but a thorough treatment of the processes involved within a communicative model, as the bilingual dictionary is seen as what it can be at its best: an indispensable learning tool. [...] a thorough piece of work which will make a positive contribution to lexicography [...] Bilingual Lexicography from a Communicative Perspective is the first theoretical contribution to bilingual lexicography tradition with focus on English and Chinese. It introduces the Western reader to a lexicographic tradition which previously received limited attention outside its own area. It is therefore of informative value. Three other advantages emerge when the book is compared to other modern handbooks of lexicography. [...] First, by providing an integrated list of suggestions for improvement of particular aspects of bilingual dictonaries and by exemplifying them in sample entries from potentional lexicography, which is concerned with generating ideas and solutions for future lexicographic projects. [...] Next, Yong and Peng's handbook is the first to treat exhaustively such aspects of lexicography as dictionary revision. [...] Finally, the book is the only existing handbook in general-purpose bilingual lexicography that employs a single theoretical framework.