[Lexicog] one practical question re. weak verbs

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----- Original Message -----
From: "John Roberts" <dr_john_roberts at sil.org>
To: <lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 10:10 AM
Subject: Re: [Lexicog] one practical question re. weak verbs


David,

It depends on what type of dictionary you are producing. If it is to be
form-based, then you would have a main entry for the weak verb with the
compounds listed as sub-entries, i.e.

\lx jang
\ps n.
\de bell
\se jang etmek
\de to telephone, ring

This is the way traditional English dictionaries, such as Chambers, do it.
But if the dictionary is to be semantic-based then the compound with the
weak verb gets its own main entry - since it is a lexeme, i.e.

\lx jang etmek
\ps v.
\de to telephone, ring

and the weak verb only gets a main entry if it can occur alone. This is the
way modern English dictionaries, such as Collins COBUILD, do things, and it
is my preference for a dictionary layout. There is nothing to stop you doing
it both ways. Give all the compounds based on weak verbs as main entries
with definitions of meaning, etc. but have a cross-reference in the entry
for the weak verb itself to all its formatives.

John Roberts