SEMASIOLOGY IN LEXICOGRAPHY: PRINCIPLES OF MEANING REPRESENTATION IN DICTIONARIES
Keywords:
Keywords: semasiology, lexicography, polysemy, dictionary entry, sense ordering, semantic definition, homonymyAbstract
Abstract: This article explores the role of semasiology — the study of word
meaning — in the theory and practice of lexicography. While lexicography
traditionally focuses on the collection, definition, and arrangement of lexical units,
semasiology provides the conceptual framework for understanding how meanings are
structured, distinguished, and related within a dictionary entry. The article discusses
key semasiological phenomena such as polysemy, homonymy, synonymy, and
semantic change, and demonstrates how each affects the lexicographer’s decisions.
Special attention is given to the treatment of polysemous words, the ordering of senses,
and the use of definitions, examples, and labels. The article argues that a systematic
semasiological approach significantly improves dictionary quality and user orientation.
References
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