Dictionaries of Neologisms: a Review and Proposals for its Improvement

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to study twelve modern Dictionaries of Neologisms (DN) in six different languages: Catalan, English, French, Galician, Italian and Spanish. I systematically analysed an array of relevant parameters in lexicographical works of this type. First, the two criteria most used by the DNs to identify the eligible lexical units are: the lexicographical (based on the use of a control corpus) and the chronological criterion. Second, I described and analysed in depth the macrostructure (origin of entries, variants, parts-of-speech) and the microstructure (definitions and senses, citations, examples and contexts, dating and thematic fields) of the DNs. From a general perspective, these DNs are grouped into three types: those developed by an author, by publishing houses and by Observatories of Neology – each with different objectives and methodologies. Third, I have tried to summarize the main strengths and weaknesses of these DNs, and I propose a number of contents and measures intended in particular to improve modern DNs. Finally, I conclude that in the 21st century we can indeed speak of a “neological lexicography”.

Keywords

• Lexicography
• Neologisms
• Catalan
• English
• French
• Galician
• Italian
• Spanish