| Abstract |
The aim of this paper is to propose a new semantic and lexical-based lemmatisation framework for the recording of idioms in bilingual Italian-English dictionaries. Many of the difficulties and inconsistencies characterising the lexicographic treatment of idioms stem from them being viewed as a semantic and lexically homogenous phrasal category. This incorrect generalisation typically motivates the traditional description of idioms as being non-compositional and lexically fixed units. Current bilingual Italian-English dictionaries treat idioms quite unsystematically, mainly due to their reliance on the subjective judgement of lexicographers and generic syntax-based listing strategies. The rationale for pursuing these methods remains unclear, particularly given the availability of substantive semantic and lexical information that could provide a more defined template for determining the position of idioms in a dictionary. This paper looks at two particular aspects of idioms in five current bilingual Italian-English dictionaries: Il Ragazzini (ZIR) (2009), Grande Hoepli Dizionario Inglese (GHDI) (2007), Il Sansoni Inglese (SI) (2006), Oxford Paravia Italian Dictionary (OPID) (2006) and Hazon Garzanti Inglese (HGI) (2009). The first is a semantic-based investigation, which analyses the entry procedures for 150 English and 150 Italian idioms across three categories: pure idioms, figurative idioms and semi-idioms. The second examines the listing strategies for 40 English and 40 Italian idioms with variable verb and noun components. Overall, two particular trends emanate from the analysis. Firstly, the arrangement of idioms is unsystematic and the allocated entry points do not reflect or emphasise their individual semantic or lexical features, which are central to their identity. Secondly, the English-Italian and Italian-English sections of certain dictionaries are disparate in their overall coverage with Italian idioms assigned a greater number of listings. These discrepancies call for a formulaic entry model that eliminates the subjectivity, inconsistency and unsystematic approach currently associated with the treatment of idioms in bilingual Italian-English dictionaries. |
| BibTex |
@InProceedings{ELX10-135,
author = {Chris Mulhall},
title = {A Semantic and Lexical-Based Approach to the Lemmatisation of Idioms in Bilingual Italian-English Dictionaries},
pages = {1355-1371},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 14th EURALEX International Congress},
year = {2010},
month = {jul},
date = {6-10},
address = {Leeuwarden/Ljouwert, The Netherlands},
editor = {Anne Dykstra and Tanneke Schoonheim},
publisher = {Fryske Akademy},
isbn = {978-90-6273-850-3},
} |
