Abstract
Despite of rapid progress in Southern Africa in the direction of multifunctionality of lexical databases through the advent of generic lexicographic software, a considerable number of lexicographic projects — especially in Khoe and Saan languages — still use or have recently used a word processor with the sole objective of compiling a printed dictionary. Hence the present paper expounds on the case of the Khoekhoegowab Dictionary Project, how in the early 1990s some off-the-shelf DOS-based database software was configured as part of a home-grown custom-made dictionary writing system. It is demonstrated in a non-technical way that the use of a structured database with fully-fledged retrieval facilities allows for the far-reaching elimination of human error in a dictionary, for the automatisation of processes like language reversal and sorting, and, finally, for the significantly enhanced usability of the data for purposes other than fixed media dictionary compilation. Compiling a dictionary without extensive query facilities as offered by tabular databases, is argued to be a lost opportunity, as it should be possible to utilise lexicographic data for more than just lexicography. By 2010 the data was accommodated in open source software to ensure its optimal survival in digital form for future use. Keywords: automatisation; compilation software; data retrieval; database configuration; database report; flat-file database; form; information generation; khoekhoe; khoesaan dictionaries; lexicography; lookup facilities; multifunctionality; query facilities; retrieval facilities; software; tones
Highlights
In a time of rapidly developing computational practices in lexicography it should amount to carrying coal to Newcastle to argue for the need of multifunctionality of lexical databases
In 2001 a contractual agreement was set up between PANSALB, the Publisher and Haacke that the Khoekhoegowab–English/English–Khoekhoegowab Glossary/Mîdi Saogub should be converted to a Khoekhoegowab–Afrikaans Afrikaans– Khoekhoegowab Glossarium/Mîdi Saogub
When in 2007 the project was ready to embark on the Dictionary Compilation Stage so as to convert the modified database into print-ready format, disaster struck: The custom-made software failed to perform because of its dependence on outmoded operating systems
Summary
In a time of rapidly developing computational practices in lexicography it should amount to carrying coal to Newcastle to argue for the need of multifunctionality of lexical databases. Despite of the very recent advances in software design there are still a number of recent if not current lexicographic projects in Southern Africa that operate with the sole objective of producing a printed dictionary, and that have pursued or still pursue this aim by means of a common word processor without resorting to an underlying database format or any dedicated lexicographic software Most of these dictionaries deal with either Khoe or Saan languages, or Bantu languages outside South Africa, as the Bantu languages of South Africa are catered for by the National Lexicography Units of the Pan South African Language Board, which all use Tshwanelex. The main reason for not using dedicated software is that projects like these usually are hamstrung by a historic legacy in that the compilation of the (lexical) corpus was started single-handedly in index card mode when — in several cases — personal computers did not exist yet, let alone generic software for dictionary compilation.. It should be possible to utilise lexicographic data for more than just lexicography
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