Abstract
A collaboration between the Dictionary Unit for South African English (DSAE) and Stellenbosch University (SU) was initiated in 2016 to address the structure, layout and functionality of the online Dictionary of South African English on Historical Principles ( DSAEHist ). This article focuses on work undertaken during the initial stages of the DSAE-SU collaboration and presents current work in adapting a print historical dictionary for the digital age. As with other print dictionaries that enter the electronic medium, the pilot version of the online DSAEHist still felt and looked like a print dictionary, albeit with a somewhat more user-friendly access structure. Another difficulty that the DSAEHist faces is the need for a dictionary based on historical principles to showcase large diachronic datasets. This requires that the article and microstructure, as well as the access structure, be adapted. Apart from this, the general layout of the dictionary is also being re-evaluated and redesigned to make it more usable on online platforms. To accommodate new users and to bring the DSAEHist into the digital era (with regard to standard web and mobile practices) stylistic, navigational and functional changes are being made. This article presents these changes to show how a valuable cultural and language resource is being brought into the digital era.
Highlights
At the 20th AFRILEX International Conference in 2015, the pilot online version of A Dictionary of South African English on Historical Principles (DSAEHist) was presented and critically discussed
Since the dictionary adaptation is ongoing and the Dictionary Unit for South African English (DSAE)-Stellenbosch University (SU) collaboration builds on and overlaps with prior DSAE-HU work, it may be helpful firstly to distinguish between areas of adaptation and secondly to give a brief background on the pilot version of the DSAEHist and clarify the scope of this article.i A final introductory note is that
The DSAEHist is a diachronic comprehensive variety dictionary documenting the vocabulary of South African English from its origins in the 17th century to the date of publication
Summary
At the 20th AFRILEX International Conference in 2015, the pilot online version of A Dictionary of South African English on Historical Principles (DSAEHist) was presented and critically discussed (cf. Van Niekerk 2015). During this session practical and theoretical obstacles and shortcomings of the online DSAEHist, especially with regard to general usability, layout and functionality, were highlighted. Since the dictionary adaptation is ongoing and the DSAE-SU collaboration builds on and overlaps with prior DSAE-HU work, it may be helpful firstly to distinguish between areas of adaptation and secondly to give a brief background on the pilot version of the DSAEHist and clarify the scope of this article.i A final introductory note is that. André du Plessis and Tim van Niekerk for the development of user-orientated and functional enhancements as part of the SU collaboration, the ideas set forth by Du Plessis (2015) on electronic and mobile dictionaries were relied upon for theoretical guidance
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