Abstract
South African English can be regarded as a fully-fledged variety of English which qualifies for comprehensive lexicographic treatment. This paper focuses on the presentation and treatment of South African English in A Dictionary of South African English on Historical Principles. The structure of this dictionary as a carrier of texts and the way in which the editors adhere to current meta lexicographic guidelines are discussed. This paper also situates the dictionary and its contribution within the broader South African lexicographic endeavour. Reference is made to other South African dictionaries in order to identify the position of this dictionary within the South African dictionary family. Keywords : back matier, carrier of texls, central list, frame structure, front matier, historical dictionary, lexicography, soulh african english, structural componenls
Highlights
South African English can be regarded as a fully-fledged variety of English which qualifies for comprehensive lexicographic treatment
Suid-Afrikaanse Engels kan beskou word as 'n volwaardige varieteit van Engels wat kwalifiseer vir 'n uitvoerige leksikografiese behandeling, Hierdie artikel fokus op die aanbieding en bewerking van Suid-Afrikaanse Engels in A Dictionary of South African English on Historical Principles
Contrary to this approach Mansvelt focused on the uniqueness of the developing Afrikaans lexicon by including those words and expressions not known in standard Dutch. The macrostructure of his dictionary has to be seen as one of the first lexicographic accounts of Afrikaans, it included many items commonly known and used in the South African English of that time. In this regard the Mansvelt dictionary should be seen as an asset to the development of South African lexicography in general as well as the lexicography of South African English
Summary
The history of lexicographic reference works in South Africa emphasises the dominating role of Afrikaans descriptive and translation dictionaries. A second contribution to and probably the most important breakthrough in the early development of the lexicography of South African English ( abbreviated as SAE) was the publication in 1913 of Charles Pettman's Africanderisms In this "glossary of South African colloquial words and phrases", the compiler reflects on the lexical expansion· in South Africa. In the front matter of DSAE the initial task of the Unit is described as: "the continuous and comprehensive collecting, arranging and storing in a lexicographically workable fonn of the vocabulary of the English language as used in Southern Africa and the editing and publication of the collected materials in the form of a Dictionary of South African English on Historical Principles, as well as periodical revision and updating of the text thereof and other research and publications associated therewith". The publication of DSAE is the fulfilment of the first phase of this task
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