Lexicographic treatment of salient features and challenges in the creation of paper and electronic dictionaries

Abstract

This paper focuses on the need for lexicographers to study and to treat the salient features of languages satisfactorily and the challenges faced by lexicographers. The focus is on the challenges facing compilers of African language dictionaries and the lack of dictionaries for these languages. It will be argued that lexicographers are expected to fulfil the role of mediators between complicated grammatical structures, on the one hand, and the target users’ needs and expectations, on the other. Dictionaries are expected to be inclusive, e.g., providing for and fulfilling user expectations by giving all the required information in the dictionary in order to reduce the need for consultation of external sources. Expectations for future compilation of paper and electronic dictionaries are discussed. It is expected that paper dictionaries will be used in Africa for many years to come but that paper and electronic dictionaries of high lexicographic quality should be compiled simultaneously. The discussion is presented against the background of the transition of African lexicography from Euro-centred dictionary compilation to Afro-centric compilation. African language dictionaries are continuously compiled in Africa, by Africans for Africans.