Dictionaries: The Art and Craft of Lexicography

TLDR

A dictionary is a reference work that records words, their meanings, usage, and etymology, tracing its evolution from early lexicographic efforts to modern compilations that incorporate corpus-based data and address legal and ethical considerations. The book outlines systematic methods for compiling dictionaries, including word selection, definition drafting, and editorial review. The text includes an introduction, definitions, usage examples, and a selective bibliography of dictionary sources from Johnson (1755) to the present.

Abstract

Introduction 1. What is a dictionary? 2. A brief history of lexicography 3. Key elements of dictionaries and other language references 4. Definition 5. Usage 6. The corpus in lexicography 7. Dictionary making 8. Legal and ethical issues Bibliography and index to dictionaries mentioned in the text, from Johnson (1755) to the present A selective bibliography of nondictionary sources.