The Effect of Lexicographical Information Costs on Dictionary Making and Use

Abstract

An important aspect for any lexicographer to consider is the ease with which users will be able to acquire the necessary information from the data presented in the dictionary, whether electronic or printed. Furthermore, this aspect has high priority with users and reviewers. A distinction is proposed between two general types of lexicographical information costs. Firstly, searchrelated costs are the effort required by the look-up activities users have to perform when consulting a dictionary to find access to the data they are searching for. It is argued that the access route, article structure, data distribution and cross-references may influence search-related information costs positively as well as negatively. Secondly, comprehension-related costs are the effort connected to the user's ability to understand and interpret the data presented in a dictionary. In other words: How easy or difficult is it for users to understand the data presented? Examples show how textual condensation, dictionary functions and use-situations may impact on the level of comprehensionrelated information costs. It is thus possible to establish a framework for evaluating lexicographical information costs for the purpose of dictionary making, use, analysis and research. Keywords: LEXICOGRAPHY, DICTIONARY, INFORMATION COSTS, ACCESS ROUTES, DISTRIBUTION STRUCTURE, CROSS-REFERENCES, TEXTUAL CONDENSATION, DIC-TIONARY ARTICLES, SEARCH ZONES, DATA, INFORMATION, DICTIONARY FUNCTIONS, USE-SITUATIONSOpsomming: Die uitwerking van leksikografiese inligtingskoste op die maak en gebruik van woordeboeke. 'n Belangrike aspek vir enige leksikograaf om in ag te neem is die gemak waarmee gebruikers in staat sal wees om die nodige inligting van die data in die woordeboek, hetsy elektronies of gedruk, te verkry. Verder geniet hierdie aspek hoë voorkeur by gebruikers en resensente. 'n Onderskeid word voorgestel tussen twee algemene soorte leksikografiese inligtingskoste. Eerstens, soekverwante koste is die inspanning wat gepaardgaan met die opsoekaktiwiteite wat gebruikers moet verrig by die raadpleging van 'n woordeboek om toegang te verkry tot die data waarna hulle soek. Daar word geredeneer dat die toegangsroete, artikelstruktuur, dataverspreiding en kruisverwysings soekverwante inligtingskoste sowel positief as negatief kan beïnvloed. Tweedens, begripsverwante koste is die inspanning verbonde aan die gebruiker se vermoë om die gegewe data in 'n woordeboek te verstaan en te interpreteer. Met ander woorde: Hoe maklik of moeilik is dit vir gebruikers om die gegewe data te verstaan? Voor-* This article is partially based on a presentation made at the Thirteenth International Symposium on Lexicography at

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