On Pragmatic Information in Learners' Dictionaries, with Particular Reference to LDOCE4

Abstract

With the aim of improving pragmatic information in learners’ dictionaries, this paper first reviews previous studies on the issue and gives an account of what pragmatic information is by presenting the theoretical framework developed in Yang (2005). On the basis of this framework, the fourth edition of the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (hereinafter abbreviated as LDOCE 4 ) is evaluated in terms of the pragmatic information it includes. The finding is that LDOCE 4 provides a considerable amount of pragmatic information at three levels of language. But there is still room for improvement. The paper, therefore, suggests some ways of improving the coverage of pragmatic information in the dictionary. In a way, this whole research may shed light on how to enrich pragmatic information in future dictionaries of this nature.