Lexicography and Linguistic Creativity

Abstract

Abstract:Conventionally, dictionaries present information about institutionalized words, phrases, and senses of words; more creative formations and usages are generally ignored. Yet text and corpus data provide ample evidence of creativity in language, showing that it is part of ordinary linguistic behaviour and indeed often systematic.This article looks at four specific types of lexical creativity in English: figurative meaning, word formation, idioms, and spelling. Focusing on selected examples, it discusses corpus evidence and then treatment in (principally) three recent monolingual dictionaries for learners of English. It argues that, even taking into account the pedagogical function and limited scope of these dictionaries, more could be said about creative aspects of lexis, and the systematicity of creative usage.This would be of benefit and interest to dictionary users, and empower them. Hierdie artikel beskou vier spesifieke soorte leksikale kreatiwiteit in Engels: figuurlike betekenis, woordvorming, idiome, en spelling. Deur op uitgesoekte voorbeelde te fokus, bespreek dit korpusbewyse en daarna behandeling in (hoofsaaklik) drie resente eentalige woordeboeke vir aanleerders van Engels. Dit voer aan dat, selfs al word die opvoedkundige funksie en beperkte omvang van hierdie woordeboeke in ag geneem, meer gesê sou kon word oor die kreatiewe aspekte van leksis, en die sistematisiteit van kreatiewe gebruik. Dit sal tot voordeel en belang van woordeboekgebruikers wees, en hulle bemagtig.

‘They parked two buses’: a corpus study of a football expression

“…Hull would definitely settle for a point at Goodison Park and Steve Bruce would be forgiven for parking the proverbial bus in hope of securing a draw. Moon (2008: 135) describes such use of ‘proverbial’ as ‘a pre-emptive device, distancing writers/speakers from their choice of lexis’. ‘Park the bus’ is also used less self-consciously with other clichés, e.g.…”

“…As to the future of the expression ‘park the bus’, it seems that most of the more creative use with it is increasingly elliptical, based on the expression, but varied ‘in some detail so that the expression is still recognizable but a wink of knowingness also is exchanged’ (Dillon, 2006: 100). Moon (2008: 133) describes such creative language use in terms of ‘metaphorical exploitation’. This is likely to continue, but possibly football managers, looking for original ways to describe the defensive tactics of opposing teams, will also move on to other concepts.…”

“…However, while we acknowledge a pejorative association with ‘cliché’, as opposed to ‘neutral’ alternatives, such as ‘fixed expression’, we find the term ‘cliché’, in so far as it denotes language used in an uncreative way, quite useful, given the focus of this article. We would stress, though, that we are describing not prescribing, and are, of course, at least equally as interested in the continuing highly creative ‘metaphorical exploitation’ (Moon, 2008) of the ‘park the bus’ expression.…”