LING6023 Dictionaries and Dictionary-Making

Offered By	School of Language Studies
Academic Career	Graduate Coursework
Course Subject	Linguistics
Offered in	LING6023 will not be offered in 2011
Unit Value	6 units
Course Description	Dictionaries are the most widely-used source of information about languages. This course introduces the craft of dictionary-making, and looks at questions about the nature of languages and their descriptions that arise when making a dictionary. The course will focus both on existing lexicographic materials (e.g. various kinds of dictionaries of major world languages) and on the task of making dictionaries of undescribed languages from scratch (particularly for languages of indigenous Australia and the Western Pacific).
Learning Outcomes	On completing this course, students will have (a) a clear understanding of the central design issues in lexicography (b) an acquaintance with some relevant software for dictionary-making (c) skill in searching language corpora for relevant material (d) rigour in the formulation of dictionary definitions for English and other languages relevant to their interests (e) an understanding of how lexical entries relate to semantic and grammatical analysis, sociolinguistic variation, etymology and broader encyclopaedic knowledge (f) an understanding of the history and likely future developments in lexicography (g) an understanding of the role of dictionaries in translation and language teaching
Indicative Assessment	(a) Problem/critique of selected existing lexicographic resources (definitions; organization) (15%) due at end of 4th week (b) a 3000 word essay due at end of Week 9 (35%) (c) Lexicographic project (group work available as an option) due at end of final week (50%)
Workload	11 classes in a weekly block of 3 hours duration (the course will start in Wk 3 of Semester 2), plus 6 1-hour tutorial meetings over the semester. Students can expect to work 5-7 additional hrs/week
Course Classification(s)	TransitionalTransitional courses are designed for students from a broad range of backgrounds and learning achievements, which provide for the acquisition of generic skills; or an informed understanding of contemporary issues; or fundamental knowledge for transition to Advanced or Specialist courses.
Areas of Interest	Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
Requisite Statement	At least 4 semester-subjects or equivalent of linguistic study, including at least one semester of semantics.
Prescribed Texts	Atkins, Sue & Michael Rundell. 2008. The Oxford Guide to Practical Lexicography. Oxford: OUP. Other relevant readings will be posted online during the course
Preliminary Reading	Relevant readings will be posted online before the course
Indicative Reading List	Frawley, Hill & Munro. 2002. Making dictionaries. Preserving indigenous languages of the Americas. U Chicago Press. Austin, Peter. Australian Aboriginal Lexicography. Evans, Nicholas. Main peculiarities of the vocabularies of Australian languages. Haimam, John, Dictionaries and Encyclopaedias; Hale, Ken, The Warlpiri Dictionary Project, Pawley, Andrew, Grammarian's lexicon; Lexicographer's lexicon; Wierzbicka, Anna Back to definitions; Landau, S. What is a dictionary
Technology Requirements	Materials will be made available online. It will simplify the running of the course if students can bring a laptop to the workshops.
Programs	Graduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics, Graduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics, Graduate Diploma in Translation Studies, Graduate Diploma in Translation Studies, Master of Applied Linguistics, Master of Translation Studies, Master of Applied Linguistics, Master of Linguistics, Master of Linguistics, Master of Translation Studies, Master of Linguistics, Graduate Certificate in Linguistics, and Master of Applied Linguistics
Academic Contact	Professor Nick Evans

The information published on the Study at ANU 2011 website applies to the 2011 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2010 website.