Abstract
The distinction between encyclopedic and semantic knowledge is well-known. The influential German metalexicographer, Wiegand, also identifies a third kind of knowledge, which he calls special-field object-constituting knowledge. It is precisely this kind of knowledge users need in order to know to which object a particular lexical item refers, otherwise they cannot use that lexical item referentially in communication. This article focuses on Konerding and Wiegand's (1994) discussion of frames and on their suggestions with regard to frame-based dictionary articles. Certain types of information are of great importance if the object-constituting knowledge is to be conveyed in dictionary articles. The article also investigates the possibilities of using frames in special-field lexicography. A sample article from an ethnomusicological database is presented in which the frame for artefacts, as worked out by Konerding, is applied and discussed. By means of frames, lexicographers can systematically ensure that the special-field object-constituting knowledge is indeed present in the articles they write. Keywords: Special-field lexicography, frame theory, frames, learner's dictionaries, special-field encyclopedic dictionaries, special-field objectconstituting meaning knowledge, matrix frames, minimal frames, item classes, predicate classes
Highlights
Sometimes when speakers look up special-field terms, be it in general monolingual dictionaries, special-field dictionaries or in dictionaries for special purposes, they need to know to which object a particular expression refers, otherwise they are unable to use the expression or lexical item referentially during communication
Wiegand (1992: 264) claims that one can formulate dictionary articles which contain items with a meaning paraphrase on the basis of frames. He points out that minimal frames do not distinguish clearly between factual encyclopedic meaning knowledge and object-constituting knowledge in all cases. He adds that this is not always necessary in dictionary articles which aim at conveying semantic knowledge.[18]
Always make sure which predicate classes should be taken into account when conveying object-constituting meaning knowledge
Summary
Sometimes when speakers look up special-field terms, be it in general monolingual dictionaries, special-field dictionaries or in dictionaries for special purposes, they need to know to which object a particular expression refers, otherwise they are unable to use the expression or lexical item referentially during communication. The following figure illustrates this: According to Wiegand (1994: 116), this last type of knowledge can be described as knowledge about meaning which enables speakers to know how linguistically to deal with a particular referential lexical expression in a special field, that refers to some object. If one acquires this knowledge from a text as in Oskar's case, this knowledge has no specific visual component. Such microstructure programmes can be constructed by means of so-called frames, which Wiegand has researched in detail.[10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
