Lexicographical Delay

Erdogan BOZ
Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Turkey
dr.erdoganboz@gmail.com

Abstract

The concept of lexicographical delay or lexicographical lag, which is referred to as such several
times in the Western literature, is an underdiscussed concept in Turkish. Thus, when we look at
the terminology dictionaries of lexicography (Hartmann  James 1998; Burkhanov 1998), we
cannot find these terms. In addition, Robinson (1983), Sterkenburg (2003) and Jackson (2013),
who also provide us with a list of lexicological terms, also do not mention these terms. There are
no such terms in the basic reference sources of lexicography (Zgusta 1971; Jackson 2002; Atkins
and Rundell 2008; Svenson 2009, Durkin 2016). In addition, these terms were also not found in
searches made in two respectable journals in the field of lexicography (International Journal of
Lexicography1, Lexikos2). In this paper, the subject will be discussed in terms of user and
dictionary relations after giving a short description of the term lexicographical delay.
Lexicographical delay can simply be described as follows: Delay experienced in the
dictionary entry process of the words which fulfill the criteria to enter the general dictionaries
and which are candidates to enter the general dictionaries; or the meanings of headwords
available in the dictionaries, which are newly emerged but must be included in the dictionary. Of
course, a more appropriate terminological description can be provided for this term. The word
"meh" in English has been discussed in this context for some time in social media.
The effect of lexicographical delay is significant in terms of user and dictionary relation.
Dictionaries, which act as a reference source for dictionary users, are elements where the user
temporarily spends a certain time while performing another task. The user wants to get done
with the dictionary as soon as possible and return to the original task at hand. For this reason, the
user is in a hurry and wants to find out what he seeks immediately. If a word searched is not
found in the dictionary and this repeats a couple times, the dictionary user first becomes
frustrated and then a problem of trust arises. Accordingly, an indifference towards the dictionary
may be created and gradual abandonment of the dictionary may occur.
In this situation, the most important measure that the dictionary creator should take in
advance is to avoid causing lexicographical delay. This is one of the important criteria for user-
friendly dictionaries.

Keywords: Lexicography, dictionary, lexicographical delay, dictionary user

1
https://academic.oup.com/ijl
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http://lexikos.journals.ac.za/pub

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1. Introduction

The concept of lexicographical delay or lexicographical lag, which is referred to as such several
times in the Western literature, is an underdiscussed concept.
Thus, when we look at the terminology dictionaries of lexicography (Hartmann  James
1998; Burkhanov 1998), we cannot find these terms. In addition, Robinson (1983), Sterkenburg
(2003) and Jackson (2013), who also provide us with a list of lexicological terms, do not mention
these terms. There are no such terms in the basic reference sources of lexicography (Zgusta 1971;
Jackson 2002; Atkins and Rundell 2008; Svenson 2009, Durkin 2016). In addition, these terms
were also not found in searches made in two respectable journals in the field of lexicography
(International Journal of Lexicography3, Lexicos4).
However, the term lexicographical delay is mentioned in several sources: Faber&Gonzales
(2002), Lasky (2004), Brewer (2007) and Dix (2016).
In this paper, two attempts will be made to define the term lexicographical delay, the
reasons for the occurrence of lexicographical delay will be discussed briefly and the issue will be
discussed in terms of the user and dictionary relationship. In the conclusions, the methods to
avoid lexicographical delay will be highlighted.

2. What is Lexicographical Delay and Why Does it Occur?

Two definitions will be proposed for the term lexicographical delay. One of these is the narrow
definition that everyone can agree upon, and the other is the broad (alternative) definition.
The narrow definition of lexicographical delay can be made as follows: Delay experienced
in the dictionary entry process of the words which fulfill the criteria to enter the general
dictionaries and which are candidates to enter the general dictionaries; or the meanings of
headwords available in the dictionaries, which are newly emerged but must be included in the
dictionary.
A broad (alternative) definition of the lexicographical delay can be made as follows. Delay
occurring as a result of the failure to follow the developments in the main structures forming the
dictionaries; namely the macrostructure, microstructure and outside matter; as well as the
subcomponents connected to them; namely the front matter, middle matter and back matter.
Both definitions above can be improved and, of course, better definitions can be made. In
our paper, we will discuss the lexicographical delay in its narrow definition.
It is necessary to briefly discuss the reasons for the occurrence of lexicographical delay by
following its narrow definition.
We know that European dictionary makers are applying various scientific criteria in the
process of incorporating candidate lexeme in the general dictionaries as well as incorporating the
new meanings of existing headwords in dictionaries. We can summarize these criteria briefly as
follows:

i. Frequency of usage

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https://academic.oup.com/ijl
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http://lexikos.journals.ac.za/pub

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 ii. Dispersion of usage
iii. Time endurance
iv. Diachrony boundary
v. Boundary for dialects and standart language
vi. Genericization boundary
vii. Proper noun boundary (Bozkurt, 2016)

Although the above criteria are applied to a significant extent by the dictionary makers, in some
cases, it can be seen that the words as well as the new meanings acquired, which should be
incorporated in the general dictionaries, are not included in the dictionaries. The failure to
meticulously comply with the above criteria can be shown as the primary reason.
In addition, the scope and the quality of the dictionary compilation, the tools and methods
used for screening, certain deviations from the target group and purpose principles, etc. can be
shown as additional reasons. Cost and physical features for printed dictionaries can also be
mentioned as reasons for lexicographical delays.

3. A Discussion on Lexicographical Delay in Social Media

A discussion on lexicographical delay in a blog in social media in very interesting. In this

discussion initiated by Brandon Burt, it was found ironic that the English word "meh", which
was started to be used as the internet became widespread in 1990s, was incorporated in The
Collins English Dictionary5 years later. 6 Reviewing the content of the discussion, the author
criticizes the failure to incorporate the word "meh" in the dictionary, and the lexicographical
delay caused by this reason.

4. Dictionary-User Relationship and Lexicographical Delay

According to Nesi (2013:67), "While dictionaries are used to understand a language or to learn
new words, the use of a dictionary is generally classified as receptive and productive. This
classification is as follows: reading in a receptive writing environment, listening in a receptive
speaking environment, writing in a productive writing environment, and speaking in a productive
speaking environment.
Conventional monolingual general dictionaries have a structure that is directed towards the
reception of the people speaking its mother tongue. Bilingual dictionaries, on the other hand,
have both receptive and productive properties.
The general dictionary user uses the dictionary depending on the need that arises while
explaining the meanings of words to children when reading newspapers and magazines, listening
to radio and watching TV, making homework and writing letters, playing word games, writing
reports, studying and also reading for leisure".

5
The Collins English Dictionary, 30th anniversary, first edition, 2009.
6
http://cityweekly.blogspot.com.tr/2008/11/current-lexicographical-lag-greater.html (09.05.2017)

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 Nesi does not directly mention lexicographical delay in this article, but speaks about
lexicographical delay in a very indirect way.
The information sought in the dictionary may vary depending on the user profile and needs.
For most non-expert users, information other than the basic meaning of the word is not important
and does not attract attention. According to Hartmann and James (2002), the information sought
by the expert user is divided into two according to the dictionary structure:

i. "A rich access profile; alphabetical index, contents, user manual, special attachments or indexes
on the back."
ii. "Rich content (microstructure); format-related information; spelling, phonetics, linguistic
knowledge, knowledge of the type of word; information related to meaning; definition, origin
information, usage label, sample, cross-reference, etc."

Summarizing the information given above, the dictionaries (in general) are sources we use to
solve the problem that arises while performing another task. The referral period is short and the
task is urgent. For this reason, the dictionary user wants to solve the problem quickly.
If the dictionary user's referral results in a failure and this is repeated several times, the user
will lose confidence in the said dictionary. If this situation persists, the dictionary user will leave
the dictionary. Therefore, the dictionary will start losing users.

5. Ways to Avoid Lexicographical Delay

The dictionary user urgently refers to the dictionary in order in order to look at the meaning of an
unknown word or to know an unknown meaning of a known word to solve the problem (by
itself) while performing another task.
Such referrals of dictionary users sometimes result in failure. Indeed, in Crystal's (1986: 75-
76) article prepared on "The Ideal Dictionary for User and Maker", two of Quirk's questions
directed at 220 British university students are directly related to this:

i. Person's failure to find what he seeks for

ii. Person's recommendations to improve the dictionary.

Questionnaires with dictionary users have clearly expressed the failure and their related
suggestions for improving the dictionary.
The actions that must be taken to minimize or entirely eliminate the initial loss of trust and
subsequent loss of customers as a result of lexicographical delay can be summarized as follows.

i. To adopt the understanding of user-friendly dictionary

ii. To make dictionaries open to user contributions
iii. To determine user requests at regular intervals and with different methods
iv. Use a current, extensive and comprehensive collection
v. To strictly apply the criteria used for candidate lexeme as well as for new meanings, and
develop new criteria.

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vi. To constantly perform updates.

References

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