English Lexicography in Chinese38

Introduction

Lexicography, the art and science of compiling dictionaries, has a long and distinguished history in China. The earliest known Chinese dictionary, the Erya, was compiled around the 3rd century BCE and contains over 2,000 entries. Since then, countless other Chinese dictionaries have been published, ranging from small, pocket-sized dictionaries to massive, multi-volume works. Chinese lexicography has also been influenced by Western lexicography, and many Chinese dictionaries now include both Chinese and English entries.

Types of Chinese Dictionaries

There are many different types of Chinese dictionaries, each with its own unique purpose. Some of the most common types of Chinese dictionaries include:
Monolingual dictionaries: These dictionaries define Chinese words using other Chinese words. They are typically used by native Chinese speakers to learn more about their own language.
Bilingual dictionaries: These dictionaries define Chinese words using English words. They are typically used by English speakers who are learning Chinese.
Specialized dictionaries: These dictionaries focus on a particular subject area, such as law, medicine, or engineering. They are typically used by professionals in those fields.
Historical dictionaries: These dictionaries provide definitions of Chinese words from different periods of Chinese history. They are typically used by scholars and historians.

The Compilation of Chinese Dictionaries

The compilation of a Chinese dictionary is a complex and time-consuming process. The first step is to collect a corpus of text. This corpus can include anything from classical literature to modern newspapers. Once the corpus has been collected, it is necessary to identify and define the words in the corpus. This can be a challenging task, especially for rare or obscure words. Once the words have been defined, they are organized into a dictionary. The dictionary may be arranged alphabetically, by radical, or by some other system.

The Use of Chinese Dictionaries

Chinese dictionaries are used for a variety of purposes. They can be used to learn the meaning of new words, to check the spelling of words, or to find synonyms and antonyms. Chinese dictionaries can also be used to translate Chinese text into English or other languages. In addition, Chinese dictionaries can be used for research purposes. For example, scholars may use Chinese dictionaries to study the etymology of Chinese words or to learn about the history of the Chinese language.

The Future of Chinese Lexicography

The future of Chinese lexicography is bright. As the Chinese economy continues to grow, the demand for Chinese dictionaries will continue to increase. In addition, the development of new technologies is making it easier to compile and distribute Chinese dictionaries. As a result, we can expect to see even more Chinese dictionaries being published in the years to come.

2024-10-15

Previous：Learn Chinese, Explore the World

Next：The Mandarin Immersion: An Intellectual Odyssey in “The Big Bang Theory“