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Unit 9: Dictionaries

traced back to the proto language. In this process cognate forms form related languages are Notes
cited. Since the help of comparative method is taken by giving cognate words such dictionaries
develop into comparative dictionaries.
In the dictionary which has many languages as its focus the entry word is given in the proto
language. The developed forms in different languages are given in the description part of the
entry.
For borrowings in the language, the etymological dictionary gives the immediate source of the
borrowing, its original meaning and forms in cognate languages. If the borrowing is through
some other language, the name of the intermediate language and the form therein are also
given.
The dictionary of borrowed or foreign word in a language can be included in the class of
etymological dictionary, because by giving the origin of these words the dictionary provides
clue to the etymology of these words.
Although the focus of the etymological and historical dictionaries is different, they are not
opposed to each other. Each one, on the other hand, can be helpful for the other to get more
reliable results. For an etymological dictionary the reconstruction of proto forms gets greater
authenticity if they are attested by forms in the earlier stage of the history of the language. This
information is made available by the historical dictionary. Again, it is in the historical dictionary
that we find what new words are derived forms the original word and at what stage.
Most of the analytical and descriptive dictionaries contain some elements of an etymological
dictionary is as far as they give what is the derivation or the origin of the word. In descriptive
dictionaries, the etymological analysis helps in solving some of the basic problems of
lexicography. Etymology helps in deciding the cases of homonymy and polysemy and in
ordering the sequence of the meanings of the polysemous words by giving the original or basic
meaning. Etymology also helps in solving the problem of unclear meanings of some lexical
units.
The synchronic dictionaries are generally grouped into two classes, general and special. General
dictionaries contain those words of the language which are of general use representing various
spheres of life and presenting a complete picture of the general language. They are meant for the
general user of the language. Special dictionaries either cover a specific part of the vocabulary or
are prepared with some definite purpose. By general dictionary it should not be understood that
it contains the entire lexical stock of the language. No dictionary, except the dictionary of dead
languages wherein the possibility of creation of new words is severely restricted, can give all
the words of a language. Although the general dictionaries contain general word list some of
the special dictionaries with their focus on some particular purpose contain the general word
lists. For example, the dictionaries of pronunciation, the reverse dictionaries, and the frequency
counts have special purpose but their word list is general.

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are true or false:
12. The diachronic or historical dictionary has a special class in it which can be called
etymological.
13. The historical dictionary is concerned with a systematic study of changes affecting a lexical
unit during its life.
14. The main function of both the historical dictionary and the etymological dictionary is to
hide the history of a lexical item.

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