Microstructural Representation of Nationally Marked Units in Scots-English and Gaelic-English Dictionaries

Abstract

The article presents the results of a comprehensive analysis of dictionary entries of nationally marked units in Scots-English and Gaelic-English dictionaries. For the first time, the dictionary entries for nationally marked units of the minority languages of Scots and Scottish Gaelic were analysed. The main microstructural components were considered and the main approaches to dictionary entries compiling were highlighted.
 The analysis of the vocabulary entries of nationally marked units in Scots-English and Gaelic-English dictionaries has revealed both common and distinctive features. Among the common features it is worth mentioning the presence of such components as headword, synchronic data, diachronic data, marking, explanatory data, syntagmatic data, illustrations and examples.
 Dictionary entries of nationally marked units in Scots-English dictionaries are distinguished by the presence of more complete data presentation, detailed explanations, as compared to the corresponding dictionary entries in Gaelic-English dictionaries.
 On average, a dictionary entry for a nationally marked unit in a Scots-English dictionary includes up to seven or eight microstructure components, while a dictionary entry in a Gaelic-English dictionary includes from three to five components. At the same time, the interpretation of a nationally marked unit in Scots-English dictionaries is more rational due to the joint presentation of the interpretation and the equivalent in the target language, whereas Gaelic-English dictionaries only provide equivalents. The absence of illustrative examples for nationally marked units in Gaelic-English dictionaries is also considered as one of distinctive features.