Showing papers in "International Journal of Lexicography in 2018"

The effectiveness of lexicographic tools for optimising written L1-texts

Abstract: We present an empirical study addressing the question if and to which extent lexicographic writing aids improve text revision results. German university students were asked to optimise two German texts using (1) no aids at all, (2) highlighted problems or (3) highlighted problems accompanied by lexicographic resources that could be used to solve the specific problems. We find that participants from the third group improve the most problems and introduced the fewest semantic distortions during revision. Also, they reached the highest overall score and are most efficient (as measured in points per time). The second group with highlighted problems lies between the two other groups in almost every measure we analyse. We discuss these findings in the scope of intelligent writing environments, the effectiveness of writing aids in practical usage situations and teaching dictionary skills.

Discriminating Dictionaries? Feminine Forms of Profession Nouns in Dictionaries of French and German

Abstract: Following societal changes, professions that were traditionally dominated by men are now open to women too, triggering the need for nouns to refer to these female professionals. Languages show differences with respect to the creation and use of these feminine profession nouns. Whereas in German, feminisation has been accepted for quite some time, in French, the use of feminine forms of profession nouns was not very common until recently, but this is changing. This paper investigates the inclusion of feminine forms of profession nouns in different editions of dictionaries of French and German over time. The results show a contrast between French and German when it comes to the presence of feminine forms of profession nouns in dictionaries. Still, the number of feminine forms present has, especially for French, massively increased over time, suggesting that changes are ongoing. Different factors that influence the discrepancy between French and German are discussed.

Looking back while moving forward : the impact of societal and technological developments on Flemish sign language lexicographic practices

Abstract: This paper presents an overview of lexicographic projects related to Flemish Sign Language (Vlaamse Gebarentaal or VGT). VGT consists of five regional varieties. There was a time when this lexical variation was considered a disadvantage in deaf education and L2 teaching. That is why in the 1980s and early 1990s the very first lexicographic project related to Flemish signs concentrated on lexical unification in Signed Dutch. However, when the Flemish Deaf community officially rejected the use of Signed Dutch and started promoting VGT, this also led to a change in focus with respect to sign language lexicography. In 2004, the first electronic bilingual Flemish Sign Language/Dutch dictionary was published online. Since by then the Flemish Deaf community had decided not to opt for standardisation from above, it was decided to also include regional variation in the dictionary and to label the regional variants as such. By looking at past and current projects and initiatives planned for the near future, it has become clear that both societal and technological developments have been shaping lexicographic work related to Flemish Sign Language. We also look forward to future developments that will pave the way for exciting possibilities with respect to sign language lexicography.