Primezero English-Chinese Print Dictionary Research Series
November 25, 2007 – 2:06 am
Introduction
After many years of research, I still do not fully understand what truly makes a “good” dictionary. In an effort to better understand what comprises a useful dictionary, I am constantly exploring ideas and concepts used in print dictionaries.
The following series will share some notes on some print dictionaries.
Print Dictionaries Designed For Niche Users
Each print dictionary has its own rhyme or reason. Each has its own style that reflects the taste of the authors and publishers. Every print dictionary is designed for a niche end-user.
Unfortunately, the authors sometimes do not represent the end-users who are either Chinese language students or non-Chinese-speaking professionals who only need to lookup a few words from time to time. this introduces a learning curve for each design of print dictionary.
Some printed lexicons rely on Chinese radical indexes while others provide some type of romanization of entries in alphabetical order. Some print dictionaries simply sort their entries in English in alphabetical order.
In this series, we will how various lookup methods are implemented.
Series Format
Each print dictionary in this research series is first described by its Library of Congress Call Number, followed by its title found in the East Asia Collection at Hayden Library at Arizona State University.
The report will then discuss some details about the dictionary.
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About Primezero English-Chinese Dictionary Research Series
The Primezero English-Chinese Dictionary Research Series is a chance to share some ideas and concepts from print dictionaries online for implementation or just discussion.
