Frame Semantics and Learner’s Dictionaries: Frame Example Sections as a New Dictionary Feature

By November 17, 2016,
Page 1153-1162
Author Carolin Ostermann
Title Frame Semantics and Learner’s Dictionaries: Frame Example Sections as a New Dictionary Feature
Abstract Frame semantics has so far been neglected or even been rejected in the context of EFL-lexicography, although lexicographic description within a frame semantics approach would have advantages for learners, e.g. the coherent presentation of several relevant lexical items at a time, as well as their conceptual connection, both of which would also further vocabulary acquisition. This proposal will detail how a frame semantics approach for the example section in English monolingual learner’s dictionaries can contribute to the notion of cognitive lexicography, i.e. a lexicography that puts an emphasis on how users process language, which would in turn facilitate a user’s understanding of an entry. For this purpose, so-called frame example sections were developed on agentive nouns (e.g. bridegroom, plaintiff); these are small coherent text passages that define and exemplify the noun in relation to its whole frame. The frame example sections mention related frame elements, collocating verbs and describe the typical scenario underlying a semantic frame, in order to promote decoding, i.e. understanding the meaning of lexical items, as well as encoding, i.e. learning words and finding related language material. The paper will be rounded off by presenting the results of a small user-study that was conducted on the frame example sections.
Session Reports on Lexicographical and Lexicological Projects
Keywords frame semantics; learner’s dictionaries; cognitive lexicography; user-study
BibTex
@InProceedings{ELX2014-090,
author={Carolin Ostermann},
title={Frame Semantics and Learner’s Dictionaries: Frame Example Sections as a New Dictionary Feature},
pages={1153-1162},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 16th EURALEX International Congress},
year={2014},
month={jul},
date={15-19},
address={Bolzano, Italy},
editor={Abel, Andrea and Vettori, Chiara and Ralli, Natascia},
publisher={EURAC research},
isbn={978-88-88906-97-3},
}
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