Meeting abstract
Dictionary of American Society and Civilization: Scope and Issues
Željko Bujas
Abstract
General-purpose bilingual dictionaries contain very little extra-
-linguistic, civilizational, information. Consequently, they are quite
inadequate aids for fully comprehending the civilizational content
of a foreign-language text. Regular encyclopedias are also often
surprisingly inadequate for the purpose, as illustrated by this
paper on specific examples from American society. This argues
for a special reference worik: a Dictionary of American Society
and Civilization (DASC). Scope of dictionary is then discussed
and a comparative-culture approach stressed. Lexicographic
issues, such as entry selection and presentation, are dealt with
in some detail. Intra-entry lexicographic techniques are given
special prominence. A three-block entry structure is suggested
as most suitable for a DASC, made up of a factual-information
block, a cultural-context block, and a block of comparative-
-culture comment. Some additions of civilizational matter and
comment to standard bilingual dictionaries are suggested and
illustrated as interim solutions until a proper DASC can be
produced.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
121664
URI
Publication date:
28.12.1984.
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