Improving Dictionaries by Measuring Atypical Relative Word-form Frequencies

• In this article, we discuss and give examples of how word-form frequency information derived from existing corpora statistics can be used to improve dictionary content. The frequency information is used in combination with rule-based morphological data based on derivational and inflectional information from the Swedish Morphological Database compiled at the University of Gothenburg, and the lexical database owned by the Swedish Academy. The method currently used in the ongoing project for updating the monolingual Contemporary Dictionary of the Swedish Academy is described, and some examples of dictionary entries identified as candidates for update based on frequency measures are given. Different aspects of morphological dictionary content are discussed and highlighted by comparison between the above-mentioned definition dictionary and a learner’s dictionary. The role of headword or lemma as well as cross-referencing methods in a digital dictionary as compared to a printed dictionary is also discussed. Finally, a few examples of suggested modifications and enhancements are given.

Subject headings

HUMANIORA  -- Språk och litteratur -- Studier av enskilda språk (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Languages and Literature -- Specific Languages (hsv//eng)

Keyword

morphology

frequency

word forms

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)