WAYS OF INTEPRETING WORDS DENOTING PIECES OF FURNITURE
IN LEARNER’S EXPLANATORY DICTIONARIES
Gerfanova E.F., Gabdullina Z.Y.
Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau State University usel2004@mail.ru, gabdullina_zarina92@mail.ru
The golden age of lexicography, in which we live today, differs greatly from what it was half a century ago. Modern lexicography not only has gone beyond the outlines of what it used to be, but has also become an important sector of general linguistics. Theoretical and practical background of lexicography has become much more stable and is being well developed. This fact accounts for the appearance of a great many types of dictionaries.
For many teachers and people who learn foreign languages, a dictionary is little more than a source for checking the meaning and spelling of foreign words. Learners’ explanatory dictionaries are a resource which is often overlooked by both students and teachers of English. Since Hornby’s pioneering Advanced Learners’ Dictionary was first published in Japan, learners’ dictionaries have emerged as a specific genre in their own right and have become accepted as an invaluable source of lexical information for intermediate and advanced language learners [1]. Thus, the compiling of new learners’ dictionaries is in constant demand. But before the compilers there is always a difficult task, such as what information the supposed user wants and how to present it in an easy and understandable way. This task becomes more complicated while compiling a dictionary for foreign language learners, because the problem as what kind of dictionary they should choose in order to improve their speech skills day by day still present in nowadays lexicography. The problems stated above predetermined the choice of the sphere of this investigation: explanatory dictionaries for foreign language learners.
The objects of the present paper are The Macmillan English Dictionary (further referred to as MED) for advanced learners [2] and the Thorndike-Barnhart Intermediate Dictionary (further referred to as TBID) [3].
The aims of the present paper are to find out the peculiarities of lexicographical description of words denoting pieces of furniture in the dictionaries under consideration and to learn whether these dictionaries are really helpful guides for foreign language learners. MED and TBID are widely used by teachers and foreign language students. Thus, it is hoped that the results of this investigation will be interesting for both teachers and the English language learners.
In order to investigate the semantic characteristic of the words denoting pieces of furniture in the dictionaries under consideration and various ways of their presentation we have compiled a list of words denoting pieces of furniture. In all we selected 63 lexical units denoting pieces of furniture in MED and 60 in TBID. It must be taken into account that the number of words presented in both dictionaries is 57. This list of words cannot be considered as a full list of words denoting pieces of furniture, but it is sufficient for defining the main types of explanations and the peculiarities of lexicographical description of words denoting pieces of furniture in the dictionaries under consideration. To investigate what types of explanations are registered in the studied dictionaries we have used the classification proposed by N.L. Yeremiya [4: 95-97]. As a general rule in explanatory dictionaries the following types of explanation are used:
1) descriptive, synonymic, antonymic definitions; 2) illustrative material; 3) pictures.
Besides, translation and etymological references can be referred to the types of explanation of words.
According to our analysis different types of explanations are used in both the dictionaries to describe the words under consideration. According to our investigation the following models of explanation are used to disclose the meaning of the word in MED and TBID:
1) descriptive definition;
2) descriptive definition + verbal illustration;
3) synonymic definition;
4) synonymic definition + descriptive definition;
5) definitions in the form of a short story;
6) definitions, which include words pertaining to the same semantic field.
Our analysis shows that the most frequently used model of explanation in both the dictionaries is descriptive definition:
Entry MED TBID
beanbag A large cloth bag that you sit on filled with small soft plastic balls. A small bag partly filled with dry beans, used to toss in play.
The model descriptive definition + verbal illustration is also widely used in both the dictionaries. It is necessary to note that the number of verbal illustrations may vary. Sometimes one descriptive definition is combined with two or even three verbal illustrations:
Entry MED TBID
bed 1. A piece of furniture you sleep on, consisting of a soft comfortable part called a mattress and a base:
double/single bed The room had two single beds in it.
2. Anything that is used by a person or animal for sleeping on: The dog’s bed is in the kitchen. 2. Any place where people or animals sleep or rest: The cat made his bed by the fireplace.
Synonymic definitions play an important role in interpreting the meaning of words in the dictionaries. In MED and TBID we have found some examples of synonymic type of explanation:
Entry MED TBID
hutch American a welsh dresser.
press Scottish a cupboard.
buffet 1. Sideboard.
The next convergence of different types of explanations is represented by the combination of synonymic definition + descriptive definition. This model is present only in TBID:
Entry TBID
coffer A box, chest, or trunk, especially one used to hold money or other valuable things.
One more type of explanation that is used by the compilers of MED and TBID to disclose the meaning of the words under consideration is definitions in the form of a short story. Such type of explanation includes three or more sentences to explain the meaning of a word and appears to us like a short story.
Entry MED TBID
armchair A large comfortable chair with parts for you to rest your arms on. It is often part of a set of chairs called a suite that also includes a sofa (=a long chair for two or three people). A chair with sidepieces to support a person’s arms or elbows.
From the above – given example we see that the word armchair is explained by descriptive definition in the form of a short story. This explanation includes also words pertaining to the same semantic field (seat, sofa).
In TBID the model definitions in the form of a short story is represented by the following examples:
Entry TBID
bed
1. Anything to sleep or rest on .A bed usually consists of a mattress raised upon a support and
lamp covered with sheet and blankets.
1. A device that gives artificial light. Oil lamps hold oil and a wick by which the oil is burned. A gas or electric, especially when covered by a glass globe or other shade, is called a lamp.
The meanings of the words bed and lamp are explained by some sentences containing specific information about their functions (gives artificial light), use (to sleep or rest) and types (a gas or electric). In MED these words are explained by descriptive definition + verbal illustration:
Entry MED
bed 1. A piece of furniture you sleep on, consisting of a soft comfortable part called a mattress and a base: double/single bed The room had two single beds in it.
2. Anything that is used by a person or animal for sleeping on: The dog’s bed is in the kitchen.
lamp 1. An electric light, especially a small one, that stands on a table or desk: Use a desk lamp when you study. 1a. An oil or gas light, especially a small one, that you can carry: an oil lamp.
Besides, verbal illustrations in MED for the word bed are accompanied by 5 graphic illustrations of different kinds of bed.
According to the definitions, which include words pertaining to the same semantic field, we should state that this type of explanation is widely used by the compilers of TBID. This type of explanation is also presents in MED, but in TBID it is used more often. By the term «semantic field» we understand closely knit sectors of vocabulary each characterized by a common concept [5]. For example, the words bed, chair, divan, sofa, table may be described as making up the semantic field of pieces of furniture. In MED 17 words under consideration are described as a piece of furniture. In TBID 8 words denoting pieces of furniture are interpreted in this way. The model of explanation the definitions, which include words pertaining to the same semantic field is represented by the following examples:
Entry MED TBID
bench
bunk bed 1. A hard seat for two or more people, usually outside in a public place: a park bench.
Two small beds that are joined together with one above the other. 1. A long seat, usually of wood or stone.
1. A narrow bed, one of two or more stacked one above another:
Sailors usually sleep in bunks.
According to our analysis we can conclude that the dictionaries under consideration have much in common with each other, but at the same time they have some distinctions. The characteristic feature of both the dictionaries is that the different types of explanation are not used in their pure form. In most cases they are represented in combinations with other types of explanation. In both the dictionaries descriptive definitions are much more preferred. One more characteristic feature of the dictionaries is the use of graphic illustrations. As for the differences between the dictionaries under consideration, we can say that TBID provides learners with the origin of some words, while MED does not. Some of the entries of TBID include etymologies, within brackets, after the definition and before any run-on entries. As for MED, we should say that the compilers of this dictionary use regional labels. Labels in italics show whether a word is used in only British or American English, or tell the learner whether it is used in informal or formal contexts.
References:
1. Hartmann, R.R.K. Sociology of the Dictionary User: Hypotheses and Empirical Studies, 1989.
2. Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners // New Edition. — Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.
3. Thorndike-Barnhart Intermediate Dictionary. Scott, Foresman and Company. — Glenwiev, III, 1973.
4. Еремия Н. Л. Типы толкования слов в учебных толковых словарях английского языка //Лингвистические исследования, 1975. Вопросы строя индоевропейских языков. Часть 2. — М., 1975. — с.95-97.
5. Ginzburg R.S., Khidekel S.S., Knyazeva G.Y., Sankin A.A. A course in Modern English Lexicology //Second Edition. – М.: Высшая школа, 1979.