Abstract
Collocations represent an item type that is frequently presented and treated in an insufficient way in dictionaries. It is cumbersome for the user to distinguish between collocations and example sentences, and dictionaries often include no additional treatment directed exclusively at collocations. In this contribution the need is shown for the recognition of collocations as an item type. It is suggested that they should be presented in such a way in dictionary articles that they can function as secondary guiding elements. Besides their inclusion in dictionaries collocations also need to receive a treatment that makes provision for, in many instances, at least an example sentence but that could also include, when necessary, stylistic and other labels and even a brief paraphrase of meaning. It is shown how collocations are presented and treated in a few existing dictionaries. These presentations are criticised and proposals are made for an improved presentation. In this regard Wiegand's model for a semi-integrated microstructure is adapted to provide for the presentation of collocations in their own non-integrated search zone. Besides the explicit presentation of single collocations proposals are made for an implicit presentation of complex collocations. From a single item form users should then be able to retrieve different items. Although the discussion primarily focuses on printed dictionaries proposals are also made for the presentation of collocations in online dictionaries.
Highlights
In general language dictionaries with a text production and text reception function lexicographers often include items to illustrate the typical use of the word represented by the lemma sign of a given article
Within such a search zone these collocations will be elevated to treatment units and to secondary guiding elements, because the user can access data regarding a collocation via that collocation as an entry in a dictionary article
As a first step to ensure a successful system where collocations are included in a specific search zone as secondary guiding elements, a thorough planning of a data distribution structure is needed with an article structure that allows the inclusion of a search zone dedicated to collocations
Summary
In general language dictionaries with a text production and text reception function lexicographers often include items to illustrate the typical use of the word represented by the lemma sign of a given article These items from which cotextual information can be retrieved, fall into different categories. As a result the user has no clear guidance to assist him/her in identifying collocations and to ensure a successful retrieval of information from entries representing this item type In printed dictionaries this inferior way of presentation is partially due to a lack of space and to an insufficient focus on collocations as fully-fledged items in dictionary articles. For both mother-tongue and foreign speakers of a given language, collocations have to be regarded as necessary items, and they should be presented in a clearly identifiable way Their lexicographic significance may never be underestimated. Proposals are made for a more salient lexicographic presentation and a more comprehensive treatment of collocations, especially by employing evidence from speech corpora
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