Principles and Methods of Digital Lexicography

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Abstract

The article describes the principles and methods of digital lexicography. It begins by defining the four main stages of the lexicographic process: 1) writing up the dictionary, 2) editing and developing the book layout, 3) publishing, and 4) the post-publication period. The following section focuses on stage 1, comparing the compilation of example corpora for dictionary preparation in the past (using millions of cardboard cards) with modern tools for lexical analysis provided by web corpora like the Russian National Corpus (ruscorpora.ru). The overview of the advancements in finding examples illustrating word usage is followed by an exploration of the ways dictionary writing methods have evolved.

The analysis of computer-based dictionary writing methods starts with a discussion of the two most popular approaches: file-based and tabular. The former involves composing dictionary files with thousands of entries using text editors like Microsoft Word, resulting in poorly structured entries with inconsistent markup. The latter, however, represents each entry as a raw with entry zones (forms, meanings, examples, etc.) arranged in separate columns. The section outlines the challenges of these methods, emphasizing their limitations in publishing options and handling complex linguistic data, often employing many-to-one relationships. Alternatives such as Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) formats and database utilization are discussed, highlighting their capacity for structured data representation.

Subsequently, dictionary writing systems (DWS) are introduced, with the OnLex platform serving as a primary example illustrating their functionality. It demonstrates how online editing interfaces streamline lexicographic processes, from data input to publication and feedback collection. By analyzing DWS features, the article emphasizes their efficacy in simplifying the editorial workflow and enhancing user experience.

A critical appraisal of the advantages of online DWS is provided, highlighting their role in addressing key challenges faced by traditional publishing methods. Notable advantages include seamless integration of search functionalities, support for multiple languages, and real-time error reporting mechanisms after publication.

In conclusion, the article advocates for the wider adoption of digital lexicography methods, particularly within the Russian tradition, emphasizing their potential to facilitate every stage of the dictionary creation process.

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About the authors

Yu. Yu. Makarov

V.V. Vinogradov Russian Language Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences; National Research University “Higher School of Economics”

Author for correspondence.
Email: yurmak@iling-ran.ru

Research Fellow at the V.V. Vinogradov Russian Language Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Junior Researcher at the Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Visiting Scholar at the National Research University “Higher School of Economics”

Russian Federation, Moscow; Moscow; Moscow

References

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Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
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1. JATS XML
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2. Rice. 1. Dictionary of the Tukita dialect of the Karata language (lingconlab.ru/TukitaDict/; [7])

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3. Fig. 2. Examples of a) TEI markup (left) and b) TEI-Lex-0 markup (right) of a fragment of a dictionary entry

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4. Fig. 3. A screenshot of the SQLite DBMS showing the table of meanings of the online dictionary of the Persian language iranic.space [1], [9]; meaning_id is the ID of the meaning, unit_id is the ID of the capital lexeme, meaning is the text of the meaning, pos_id and rank are technical indexes

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5. Fig. 4. Fragment of the editorial interface of the OnLex platform, example from the pamiri.online website [11]

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6. Fig. 5. Article dod from the Shugnan-Russian dictionary by D. Karamshoev, presented on the website pamiri.online [11]

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