Representing the Cultural Dimension of Meaning in Learner's Dictionaries — From the Perspective of Chinese EFL Learners in L2 Reception

Abstract

Abstract:Meaning in dictionaries ranks as the most frequent data type consulted by languagelearners. An extensive range of devices have been developed to represent the meaning of lexical items in learner's dictionaries. Starting from interpreting foreign language learners' lexicographic needs in specific user situations, this paper aims to examine the implications of customizing definitions from the cultural perspective with specific reference to Chinese learners of English. The purpose of this paper is three-fold: i) to understand the status quo of the lexicographic practice of English learner's dictionaries in terms of representing the cultural dimension of a lexical item; ii) to interpret the impacts of foreign language learners' language and cultural background on their lexicographic needs in terms of cultural aspects in L2 reception; iii) to address the identified problems with present lexicographic practices through model articles. It is expected that the findings in this paper can shed some light on interpreting other ethnic groups of learners' lexicographic needs in different situations and contribute to improving the services of learner's dictionaries in the future as well. Keywords: CHINESE EFL LEARNERS, CULTURAL DIMENSION, L2 RECEPTION, LEARNER'S DICTIONARIESOpsomming: Die weergee van die kulturele dimensie van betekenis in aanleerderswoordeboeke -uit die oogpunt van Chinese EVT-leerders in L2-resepsie. Betekenis in woordeboeke word beskou as die mees frekwente datasoort wat deur taalaanleerders opgesoek word. 'n Omvattende reeks hulpmiddels is ontwikkel om die betekenis van leksikale items in aanleerderswoordeboeke weer te gee. Hierdie artikel begin by die interpretasie van vreemdetaalleerders se leksikografiese behoeftes in spesifieke gebruikersituasies en beoog om die implikasies van die pasmaking van definisies uit 'n kulturele perspektief te ondersoek met spesifieke verwysing na Chinese aanleerders van Engels. Die doel van hierdie artikel is drievoudig: i) om die status quo van die leksikografiese praktyk van Engelse aanleerderswoordeboeke te verstaan ten opsigte van die weergee van die kulturele dimensie van 'n leksikale item; ii) om die uitwerking van vreemdetaalleerders se taalkundige en kulturele agtergrond op hul leksikografiese behoeftes te interpreteer ten opsigte van kulturele aspekte by L2-resepsie; iii) om die geïdentifi-seerde probleme met die huidige leksikografiese praktyke deur modelartikels aan te spreek. Daar

Differentiated Treatment of Cultural Items in Lexicographical Products: A Necessary Adaptation to the Digital Environment

“…This paper focuses on Chinese lexicography, where a similar tendency characterizes the academic production, especially the one concerned with dictionaries for foreign learners of Chinese. Examples of this are articles by Tseng (2003), Xue (2017), Ma (2018), Xue and Tarp (2018), Huang (2020), Kang (2020), Li and Xia (2020), and Zhang and Mi (2020).…”

“…This calls for their focus to move from the dictionary as such to the lexicographical database, where the relevant data are stored and from which they can be uploaded to the different tools in carefully metered doses. Surprisingly, most scholars who make concrete proposals for the lexicographical treatment of cultural and other items focus exclusively on their presentation in dictionaries; see, for instance, Tseng (2003), Sánchez (2010), Klosa (2015), Xue (2017), andHuang (2020). This approach will not be able to overcome the problematic one-size-fits-all tradition.…”