评第六版《朗文当代英语辞典》

Comment on Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition

《朗文当代英语辞典》是一部内容丰富的当代英语学习型词典,但还有太多不如人意之处。除祈使句和带插入语的定语从句的主语可省略外,谓语必须有自己的显形主语,但该词典31页上有:“I was a little afraid when first met him.”这种不可接受的缺主语的例句。在对待可数名词短语时还是应该坚持用复数或用限定词的原则“self-serving politicians,a self-sufficient farm”,但就在1647页同一页上出现既不用复数又不加限定词的可数名词短语:“self-made man/millionaire/businessman”。辞典在正式印刷之前肯定要经过多次校对,且该词典已经出版到了第六版,印刷错误应该极少,但出人意料,错误多达22处。

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6 thedition is a content-rich,learner’s dictionary of contemporary English,but there is much left to be desired. Except for the possible omission of the subjects of imperative sentences or attributive clauses pre-headed by parenthetical clauses,every predicate must have its conspicuous subject,but in this dictionary,on page 31 is printed: "I was a little afraid when first met him. ",which is an unacceptable sentence lacking a required subject. Countable noun phrases should be used in plural forms or with determiners: "self-serving politicians,a self-sufficient farm",but on page 1647,there are also such countable noun phrases as: "self-made man/millionaire/businessman". Before printing,dictionaries should be seriously proofread several times,and this dictionary has reached its sixth edition;therefore few or no errors are expected but unexpectedly,there are as many as 22 typos.