Metaleksikografiese ondersoek na konteksleiding in Afrikaanse vertalende woordeboeke
Date
2006-03
Authors
Beyer, Herman Louis
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
This study reports on a metalexicographical investigation into contextual guidance in Afrikaans
translation dictionaries. The problem that gives rise to the need for such an investigation is
demonstrated from a practical perspective, after which attention is paid to determining the genuine
purpose of a dictionary by looking at the component parts of the concept, i.e. the typological
placement and the target user group of the dictionary in question. The discussion of the target user
group evolves into an in-depth look at the user aspect, which results in the development and
presentation of the model of lexicographical parameters for user-friendly dictionaries. This model
aims to provide a scientific description of lexicographical user friendliness. Existing proposed
definitions of the genuine purpose of a dictionary coupled with the benefit of insights derived from
the model of lexicographical parameters for user-friendly dictionaries make the presentation of a
new definition of the genuine purpose of a (translation) dictionary possible, which is followed by
defining a polyfunctional translation dictionary for Southern Africa. Attention is also paid to some
macrostructural issues pertaining to standard translation dictionaries, among others vertical and
horizontal alphabetical macrostructures and niching and nesting as manifestations of horizontal
alphabetical macrostructures. With regard to nesting, the classification of first and second level
nesting is expanded by the description of third and fourth level nesting. The influence of the
organisation plan and the dictionary conceptualisation plan on the selection of lexical items for the
macrostructure of a standard dictionary is touched upon. An in-depth evaluation of contextual
guidance in Afrikaans standard translation dictionaries follows the exposition of the rationale for it
and the definitions of the terms context, contextualisation and contextual guidance. The discussion
produces the identification of the types of contextualising entries, among others meaning
explanations, lexicographical labels and glosses, which fall under the main class of discriminators
and which in turn functions alongside the main classes of cotext entries and inserted texts. Each
type and subtype is studied meticulously, and distribution structures are determined and evaluated
through the study of dictionary data. The study of the data also results in the identification of
different levels of contextualisation as well as different types of translation equivalent paradigms.
The discussion of lexicographical labels takes on the form of a critical overview of the existing
literature on this topic and results in the presentation of a new and scientifically sounder model for
the description of labelling in dictionaries in general, i.e. the deixis model. The study of
contextualising entries is followed by a discussion of certain elements of the composition of
dictionary articles that can support successful contextual guidance, i.e. types of microstructures and
the rapid internal access structure. The in-depth study of contextualisation makes the revision of the
definition for the term contextualising entry possible. Ultimately a practical model for more effective contextual guidance in polyfunctional Afrikaans translation dictionaries is presented in
three main components, i.e. (i) standards for the application of contextual entries, (ii) the proposal
of an adapted rapid internal access structure, and (iii) the effective application of functional types of
microstructures. The requirements of lexicographical accountability and user-friendliness remain
central motives throughout the study.
Description
Thesis (DLitt (Afrikaans and Dutch))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.
Keywords
Afrikaans translation dictionaries, Lexicography, Encyclopedias and dictionaries, Dissertations -- Afrikaans and Dutch, Theses -- Afrikaans and Dutch