Multimodal Exemplification:The Expansion of Meaning in Electronic Dictionaries

Abstract

Abstract:This article investigates electronic dictionaries under the framework of SystemicFunctional Multimodal Discourse Analysis (SF-MDA) and argues for improving their exemplification multimodally. Multimodal devices, if well coordinated, can help optimize e-dictionary examples in informativity, diversity, dynamicity and interactivity. The term multimodal exemplification is tentatively proposed under the umbrella of multimodal lexicography (Lew 2010), and defined as the selection and presentation of examples with multimodal devices for achieving greater effectiveness in exemplifying than language does alone, especially in an e-dictionary. Evidence shows that multimodal exemplification can expand the three metafunctional meanings of the e-dictionary discourse: ideational, interpersonal and textual. Ideational meaning can be enriched by not only multimodal examples per se but also cross-modal example-definition ties, and hyperlinks facilitate meaning flow in the semantic network. Interpersonal meaning can be expanded by user participation and design options, including those for page layout (spatial mode) and example genre style (verbal mode). Textual meaning can be reinforced by information value, composition, salience and framing. This article makes a first attempt to explore the intermodal relationship between a definition and the examples under the same sense, and to present a diagram illustrating a typical design of visual space in e-dictionaries. By exploring the special features of multimodal example texts, it may deepen our understanding of the emerging multimodal lexicography and complement multimodal discourse studies from a lexicographical perspective. Keywords: E-DICTIONARY, EXAMPLE, METAFUNCTIONAL MEANING, MULTIMODAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS, MULTIMODAL EXEMPLIFICATION, MULTIMODAL LEXICOG-RAPHYOpsomming: Multimodale toeligting: Betekenisuitbreiding in elektroniese woordeboeke. In hierdie artikel word elektroniese woordeboeke binne die raamwerk van Sistemies-Funksionele Multimodale Diskoersanalise (SF-MDA) ondersoek en geargumenteer ten gunste van die verbetering van hul multimodale toeligtingshulpmiddels. Indien multimodale hulpmiddels goed gekoördineer word, kan hulle help om die e-woordeboekvoorbeelde te optimaliseer ten opsigte van informatiwiteit, diversiteit, dinamiek en interaktiwiteit. Die term multimodale toeligting word tentatief voorgestel onder die oorkoepelende multimodale leksikografie (Lew 2010), en gedefinieer as die seleksie en aanbieding van voorbeelde met behulp van multimodale hulpmiddels ten einde groter effektiwiteit in toeligting te verkry as wat met slegs taal gedoen kan word,

For a Better Dictionary: Revisiting Ecolexicography as a New Paradigm

“…In the digital revolution, the way of displaying data in e-dictionaries must be redefined (Gouws 2014), and semiotic resources (e.g. color, typography, and navigation devices) should be properly employed according to the context (Liu 2015(Liu , 2017Farina et al 2019).…”

“…First and foremost, the complicated semantic system of a dictionary is comparable to an ecology where meaning is like energy. Meaning flows and expands (Liu 2017), just as energy flows and circulates. As an ecological system, an e-dictionary is even more open and dynamic than a paper dictionary.…”

“…Compared with paper dictionaries, e-dictionaries provide users with more chances of participation and interaction, facilitating compiler-user or even user-user dialogues and greater flexibility in use (cf. Liu 2017). Many e-dictionaries invite users to contribute entries or make comments on them (Granger 2012).…”

Para uma teoria do exemplo lexicográfico: formas e funções da exemplificação em dicionários semasiológicos

“…Existe, no âmbito (meta)lexicográfico, um consenso a respeito da importância do exemplo no cumprimento de diversas funções no interior da microestrutura de dicionários de língua, tais como complementar a definição, apresentar contextos sintáticos, introduzir informações culturais ou atestar a ocorrência de uma palavra ou acepção. A relevância do tema é corroborada pelo número considerável de estudos que retomam o problema da exemplificação nos dicionários de língua (cf., por exemplo, MARTIN, 1989;HARRAS, 1989;MINAEVA, 1992;TOOPE, 1996;HUMBLÉ, 1996;1998;GARRIGA ESCRIBANO, 2001;2003;STEIN, 2002;FOURMENT-BERNI CANANI, 2002;HEINZ, 2002;SIMPSON, 2003;BARGALLÓ ESCRIVÁ, 2008;HILES, 2011;ROBLES I SABATER, 2011;DIDAKOWSKI;GEYKEN, 2012;POTGIETER, 2012;JESENŠEK, 2013;FRANKENBERG-GARCÍA, 2015;LIU, 2017;KOSEM, 2017;OSSELTON, 2018;KOSEM et al, 2019;GANTAR et al, 2019;LETTNER, 2020), sem contar o destaque que se costuma conferir ao tema nos manuais de lexicografia (cf., por exemplo, REY-DEBOVE, 1971;DUBOIS, 1971;ZGUSTA, 1971;MERZAGORA, 1987;LANDAU, 2001;KLOTZ, 2003;WELKER, 2004;SVENSÉN, 2009;HERBST, 2016). Não obstante, a maioria dos estudos que abordam a questão da exemplificação em dicionários de língua preocupam-se preponderantemente com o estabelecimento de tipologias baseadas quase sempre na distinção entre exemplo e abonação 1 , ou ainda entre as funções de recepção e produção linguística, sem que -pelo menos até o momento -haja sido desenvolvida uma metodologia 2 que permi...…”

Technology Implementation in Second Language Teaching and Translation Studies: New Tools, New ApproachesMaría LuisaCarrió‐Pastor, Singapore: Springer. 2016. 258 pages. Hardcover €93.59, ISBN 978‐981‐10‐0571‐8, eBook €74.96, ISBN 978‐981‐10‐0572‐5

“…It would enrich our understanding of technology use if the volume had addressed such issues as smartphone dictionary use in multimodal contexts (cf. Liu, ). As a new approach first appearing in 2012, language MOOCs constitute still another hot topic not included in this volume.…”