Learners’ Monolingual Dictionaries
Learners’ Lexicography in Britain
The development of the learner’s lexicography in Great Britain goes back to the 1930s. The first monolingual dictionary of English for foreign learners was compiled by M.West and J.G.Endicott in 1935 («New Method English Dictionary». London: Longmans Green). The dictionary had about 30,000 entries. The compilers made a successful attempt to define these words with the help of a vocabulary consisting of only 1,490 words. This facilitated the use of the dictionary by a foreigner with limited knowledge of English.
In 1942 in Japan A.S.Hornby, E.V.Gatenby and H.Wakefield published the «Idiomatic and Syntactic English Dictionary» (Tokyo: Kaitakusha) which was later retitled «Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English» (OALD) and became the most authoritative reference book for foreign learners of English all over the world.
Until 1978 the OALD was the only learner’s dictionary of English. Then the «Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English» (LDCE) appeared and in the late 1980s one more learner’s dictionary was published – the «Collins COBUILD English Language Dictionary» (COBUILD). 1995 could be called a ‘lexicographic year’: three new editions of English learner’s dictionaries (OALD 5, LDCE 3 and COBUILD 2) and two new dictionaries – «Cambridge International Dictionary of English» (CIDE) and «Harrap’ Essential English Dictio‑nary» (HEED) came out almost simultaneously. The HEED, however, has not reached the Russian market yet. This is the reason why, in what follows, we shall dwell on the other four dictionaries whose new editions (OALD 6, LDCE 4 and COBUILD 3) came out in 2000–2002, and discuss the features which unite and distinguish them. We shall consider them against the background of general principles of learners’ lexicography.
To gain a deeper insight into typical features of a learner’s dictionary let us first compare the entries for the word gunin the «Concise Oxford Dictionary» (COD) and the «Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary» (OALD).
The Concise Oxford Dictionary
gu‑n n. & v. (‑nn‑). 1. n. Metal tube for throwing missiles with gunpowder or other propellant; piece of ordnance, cannon, rifle, carbine, pistol; big ~, (sl.) important person;blow great ~s, (of wind) blow violently;give (engine, motor vehicle)the ~, (colloq.) cause acceleration of; going great ~s, proceeding vigorously towards success;son of a ~, (colloq.) contemptible person (also joc.); SPIKE1 person’s gunsstick to one’s ~s, maintain one’s position under attack (lit. or fig.). 2. Starting‑pistol; beat orjump the ~, start before the signal is given, (fig.) act before permitted or agreed or proper time. 3. Device for discharging insecticide, grease, electrons, etc., in desired direction. 4. Member of shooting‑party; *gunman. 5.~ґboat, small vessel of shallow draught and with relatively heavy guns (~boat diplomacy,diplomacy supported by use or threat of military force); gun‑CARRIAG‑E;~‑cotton,explosive used for blasting, made by steeping cotton in nitric and sulphuric acids; ~crew,team manning gun; ~dog, dog trained to follow sportsmen who use guns;*~‑fight,(colloq.) fight with firearms;~‑fire, firing of gun(s), esp. (Mil. & Naut.) of morning or evening gun to show time, or independent firing by each gun of a battery;~‑harpoon (propelled from gun, not by hand);~‑layer, one whose task is to aim large gun;~‑lock, mechanism by which charge of gun is exploded;~’man, man armed with gun, assassin using gun;~‑metal,alloy of copper and tin or zinc (formerly used for guns), dull bluish‑grey colour; ~moll, (sl.) gangster’s mistress, woman criminal with gun; ~‑pit, excavation to protect guns and gun crews;~‑play, use of firearms, gun‑fight;at ~ґpoint, under threat of injury by a gun; ~ґpowder, (1) explosive of saltpetre, sulphur, and charcoal, (Gunpowder Plot,5 Nov. 1605 to blow up Parliament), (2) fine green tea of granular appearance;||~ґroom, (1) room for sporting‑guns etc. in house, (2) compartment in warship fitted up for junior officers or as lieutenants’ mess‑room (orig. for gunner and his mates);~‑runner, – running, (person engaged in) illegal introduction of firearms into country;
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~ґshot, (1) shot fired from gun, (2) range of gun (o;// of, within, gunshot);~‑shy, (esp. of sporting dog) frightened at report of gun;
«~‑site, (usu. fortified emplacement for gun;~‑slinger, gunman;~ґsmith, maker and repairer of small firearms;~‑stock, wooden mounting of gun – barrel. 6. Hence (heavily etc.) /^nED2 (‑nd), ~ґless, adjs. 7. r.t. Shoot at; shoot (down);accelerate (engine etc.). 8. v.i. Go shooting; ~ for, seek with gun, (fig.) seek to attack, harm, or destroy. (ME gunne, gonne, perh. f. *Gunnapet‑form of Scand. Gunnhildr woman’s name.)
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