Automatic aids to dictionary revision

Abstract

Updating a bilingual dictionary is a formidable task. The lexicographer has to have an intimate knowledge of both languages involved in all the pertinent fields. To this purpose, the work of professional translators could be used to good advantage. In a large majority of such translations, both the original word and the English equivalent chosen are found in already existing bilingual dictionaries. We are concerned with the case where either the source word or the English equivalent are not listed. The translator ordinarily does not relay his discovery or new interpretation to the lexicographer; he may be quite unaware of this. A side by side comparison of the original and the translation would reveal such deviations to the lexicographer. The original article is sufficient to indicate a missing word in the dictionary. The translation is needed to obtain its equivalent. A dictionary and the translation are needed to detect a new equivalent. This comparison is time-consuming and tedious. The following procedures, programmed at Ramo-Wooldridge relieve the lexicographer of this drudgery and yet supply him with the results.