[Lexicog] circular definitions

[cce]

Yes, I agree with what Peter says. However, I doubt that many people whose
country (or whatever you would call it) don’t have a decent bilingual
English dictionary will buy Longman or Oxford. Further, the fact that these
dictionaries are sold in huge, very huge numbers does not mean they are
being used. There is a definite psychological aspect to dictionaries, at
least as important as its obvious ‘function’. I bought my Oxford Learner’s
dictionary in 1970. I first used it in 1996, to write on the subject. But
back in 1970 I was very proud to be considered a monolingual English
dictionary owner!

 

Philippe

humble at cce.ufsc.br

 

 

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De : Peter Kirk [mailto:peterkirk at qaya.org] 
Envoyé : mardi 9 mars 2004 19:42
À : lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com
Objet : Re: [Lexicog] circular definitions

 

On 09/03/2004 01:22, cce wrote:

>  
>
> ... I could imagine that would be useful for speakers of languages 
> such as Kaxinaua or Guarani, or any language with no decent bilingual 
> English dictionary, speakers who would at any rate be fluent enough to 
> understand a definition in a Learner’s Dictionary. An unlikely, but 
> possible situation. ...


Not that unlikely. I don't know how many languages of the world do not 
have a good quality bilingual dictionary with English, but it is 
certainly many thousands, with numbers of speakers from the hundreds up 
to the millions. I have seen an estimate that half a billion people do 
not have a Bible in their mother tongue, and I would guess that the 
figure for bilingual dictionaries with English (or French etc) is in the 
same ball park. Of course not all of these people are actively learning 
English, but a rather large proportion aspire to do so! Meanwhile 
learners' dictionaries are sold in huge numbers, and presumably used; 
and I wouldn't be surprised if some of the purchasers barely know what 
"bull" means when buy it.


-- 
Peter Kirk
peter at qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk at qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/




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