英语学习型词典例证的解码与编码功能——以词条monopoly中的例证为个案研究

Decoding and Encoding Functions of Examplesin English Learners' Dictionaries:A Case Study of theExemplification of the Word “monopoly”

文章以五大英语学习型词典和《新英汉词典》中的词条"monopoly"的例证为个案,研究英语学习型词典例证的解码与编码功能。配例能否传达明确的编纂意图很大程度上取决于词典编纂者是否正确预测特定用户群在何种情形下可能查询目标词,是否意识到解码意图的例证与编码目的的例证发挥的作用不同。解码例证应主要阐释目标词的含义,而编码例证则应凸显典型搭配和用法;两类例证都应显示目标词的典型语境。

This article discusses the decoding and encoding functions of dictionary examples,making reference to the exemplification of the word ＂monopoly＂ in the ＂Big Five＂ English learners＇ dictionaries and in New English-Chinese Dictionary.Manifestation of clear lexicographic intentions in a dictionary example largely depends upon whether lexicographers have perceived the situation in which a particular group of dictionary users are most likely to look up a given word,and whether lexicographers have realized that an example intended for a decoding task fulfills different functions from an example for an encoding purpose.While decoding examples are chiefly used to clarify word meanings,encoding examples are intended to illustrate word collocations and syntactic structures.Both types of examples are required to show the prototypical contexts of an entry word.