Abstract This study presents a corpus-driven analysis of the phraseological patterns of two near-synonyms, collision and crash. Following John Sinclair's theory of phraseology and employing a stepwise analytical procedure, it explores the nuanced similarities and differences in the patterns of these two words. Rather than merely investigating their contextual information, this study analyses each word in conjunction with its surrounding lexical environment. The results provide a detailed delineation of the patterns and meanings associated with these synonyms. First, the study identifies five strong patterns for each word—two unique and three similar. Second, the descriptions and comparisons presented here extend those found in popular learners’ dictionaries and offer a complementary perspective to the Behavioral Profile (BP) approach. Additionally, the findings underscore the value of the theory of phraseology in synonym discrimination. Based on these insights, implications for L2 English teaching and lexicography are discussed.

Abstract The historical development of print editions of monolingual English learners’ dictionaries has been well documented. In contrast, the evolution of their online counterparts remains underexplored. It is argued that this is because documentation of changes to online dictionaries is scarce. The use of archived web material is posited as a means of addressing this research gap. Drawing on Lew and Szarowska’s (2017) online dictionary evaluation framework and Brügger’s (2018) concepts of webstrata and digitality, this study explores the feasibility of using archived web material for diachronic research on websites that provide access to The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Findings indicate that although existing archived material allows investigation of common research themes in lexicography, changes to archiving practices are necessary to facilitate in-depth research. To this end, techniques for exploiting existing archived web material are discussed along with suggestions for the creation of an ideal web archive.

Abstract This study applies the Multi-dimensional Analysis (MDA) approach to compare the linguistic features of definitions in an L1 dictionary (The Contemporary Chinese Dictionary) and an L2 dictionary (JUZI Chinese), based on a self-compiled corpus of over 370,000 words. A total of 57 lexical features were examined across six dimensions to systematically investigate how definitions differ between the two dictionaries. The results reveal significant linguistic variation, reflecting the distinct functions and target users of each resource. Specifically, The Contemporary Chinese Dictionary employs more uncommon and diverse vocabulary, characterized by formality, conciseness, a general spatiotemporal orientation, and a technical style, while JUZI Chinese features more common and restricted vocabulary, characterized by informality, elaboration, a concrete spatiotemporal orientation, and a nontechnical style. The most prominent differences appear in the five key dimensions: Common vs. Uncommon Vocabulary, Diverse Vocabulary vs. Restricted Vocabulary, Informal vs. Formal Style, Concise vs. Elaborate Definition, and Concrete Spatiotemporal vs. General Spatiotemporal Word Choice. These findings provide empirical insight into how L1 and L2 dictionaries implement their editorial principles, and demonstrate the value of MDA for assessing definitional variation in lexicographical practice.

Abstract Researching and recording new lexical items and senses holds a well-established position within German linguistics. The first corpus-based online dictionary (the Neologism Dictionary 2006ff.) was introduced in 2006 and focused on collecting and describing neologisms which had emerged and become established over the three decades from 1900 to 2020. In 2022, a new concept was developed to elevate lexicographic aspirations by integrating linguistic as well as encyclopaedic knowledge, and by introducing innovative presentational approaches. In this paper, the key changes and concepts of the new resource (published in platform OWID) will be highlighted, in particular its main aim, which is to merge an online dictionary with a dynamic informative dashboard. This combination offers headword-specific details for general reference and comprehensive information related to neologisms that transcends individual units, presented in various formats. Particular emphasis will be placed on the significant connection between neology and (critical) discourse, a facet that has previously played a minor role in lexicographic practices.

Abstract While there is growing interest in representations of older adults across media in general, specific studies of their representation in dictionaries are scarce. This study used content analysis, transitivity analysis and attitude system to explore how older adults’ identities are discursively constructed in the seventh edition of the Contemporary Chinese Dictionary (CCD7). On the negative side, CCD7 reveals several stereotypes (e.g., being frail and vulnerable), presenting old age as the antithesis of active youth. On the positive side, CCD7 uniquely highlights the significant role of older adults within the Chinese extended family structure. In addition, CCD7 emphasises that, in Chinese culture, caring for older adults is seen as a familial and social responsibility. Through the lens of CDA, this study contributes to our understanding of old age in lexicographic discourse and promotes inclusive language.

Abstract The launch of the FrameNet project in 1997 was both a crystallisation point of decades worth of theoretical investigations into lexical meaning by Charles J. Fillmore and colleagues, as well as the seed of an ongoing line of corpus-based and computational research that seeks to implement Fillmore’s theory of Frame Semantics in a way that both provides an interesting model relevant for further theorising and also is applicable practically for semantic analysis, lexicology, and lexicography. At the occasion of FrameNet’s 25th birthday, we want to introduce the project to a new generation of researchers but also take stock of, and report on, what has been achieved. We revisit the origins of the FrameNet project, assess its development and various changes in the years since it was first reported on in a special issue in the pages of this journal twenty years ago.

Abstract This study assesses the effectiveness of ChatGPT versus the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (LDOCE) in supporting English language learners in lexically challenging receptive and productive lexical tasks. With a sample of 223 university students at B2 to C1 proficiency levels, this research investigates whether a leading AI-driven chatbot or a high-quality learners’ dictionary better assists learners in accurately understanding and producing English. The results reveal ChatGPT’s superior performance in both task types. Efficiency, in terms of consultation speed, also favoured ChatGPT, though only in the production task. This study advocates for an integrated approach that leverages both AI, with its interactive and immediate feedback, and more traditional lexicographic tools that may foster learner autonomy and linguistic proficiency.

Abstract Dictionaries of foreign words in Slovak have a tradition of publication that can be traced for more than one hundred years. Their popularity among users is closely connected to a general interest in so-called language cultivation, which includes a good knowledge of frequently used words of non-native origin. Here, special attention will be paid to suffixed loanwords. In the case of larger sets of loanwords with the same suffix, speakers recognize their similarity and regularity. The central aim of this paper is to investigate how the lexicographic representation of suffixed loanwords in Slovak dictionaries of foreign words developed in the past one hundred years. The analysis focuses on a set of loanwords with three non-native suffixes, namely -ácia (‘-ation’), -izmus (‘-ism’), and -ita (‘-ity’), each of which stands in competition with a corresponding native suffix. It was investigated how the emergence of a competing variant with a native suffix attached to the same foreign base influences the information given by dictionaries. For the analysis, I used five dictionaries of foreign words in Slovak published between 1939 and 2005. Based on a sample of entries from these dictionaries, I distinguish four types of dictionary definitions used to describe suffixed loanwords. Then I propose a model explaining the historical and logical relationships between these four definition types.

Abstract Our paper seeks to bridge the gap between a linguistic and a technological description of Artificial Intelligence, as we see chatbots and other representations pushing to the forefront of academic ways of working. We set out to venture a philologist’s perspective on AI, critically reflecting upon the extent and nature of a lexicographical software’s ‘intelligence.’ We shall discuss and demonstrate AI’s potentials and limitations by adhering to the specific case of the recently released English Dialect Dictionary Online 4.0 (Markus and team 2023). While we propose that EDD Online is ‘intelligent’ in the sense that its retrieval software will anticipate and be capable of answering many of the questions that dialectologists would raise, we claim that the reason for such ‘intelligence’ is inherently rooted within the competence of humans in terms of predicting such questions and of eliciting the answers by means of complex query rules. We shall in fact argue that – as opposed to retrieval software types like the hotly debated ChatGPT chatbot, which are merely black box phenomena – EDD Online 4.0’s user interface represents a rare feature of AI: transparency and proactive user-friendliness. (185 words)