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Research and Publications on
Dictionaries and Lexicography
The lion’s share of this issue is devoted to
various aspects of books about lexicography and dictionaries. Our drive has
stemmed from recent publications originating in two faraway powerhouses of
modern English (pedagogical) lexicography, Japan and Poland. In addition, we are delighted to announce our own
plans to publish selected papers from various conferences, and to issue a
call for papers for a new publication.
Japan has been at a semi-hidden forefront of lexicographic
research and dictionary making since the early 20th century. The number of
dictionaries regularly produced there is probably well beyond those appearing
anywhere else worldwide. What is still usually less known outside Japan is the extent of its research concerning lexicography
in general and dictionaries for learners of English in particular, much of
which can perhaps be attributed to the geographical distance and linguistic differences
involved in this country. The publication of English Lexicography in Japan
marks a welcome step towards bringing it closer to the rest of the world.
While presenting and reviewing this book we have taken the opportunity to
also discuss the pioneering and innovative work of the Iwasaki Linguistic Circle and its annual publication Lexicon.
Poland has emerged into the lexicographic foreground these
last few years mainly due to the town of Poznań and more specifically the local School
of English at Adam
Mickiewicz University. In addition to an overview of this institute we offer
reviews of three of the outstanding monographs by members of its staff that
were published last year.
As for K Dictionaries’ publishing plans, next year we
will mark the tenth anniversary of Lexicography in Asia, a selection
of papers originating mainly from the Dictionaries in Asia Conference that
was held in Hong Kong and set the stage for the establishment of the Asian
Association for Lexicography (ASIALEX), and we intend to publish a new volume
of papers explicitely written to celebrate this event. It is our great
pleasure to invite all of you who may be interested in contributing on any
aspect regarding lexicography in Asia to contact us with your proposals.
In the meantime, we have been approached by the
organizers of the last ASIALEX conference at the National University of
Singapore with the idea to publish a selection of the conference papers. The
preparations are currently underway for what will become the second volume of
Lexicography in Asia, entitled Perspecives in Lexicography: Asia
and Beyond.
We likewise plan to start publishing selected papers
from other dictionary conferences around the world, such as the one held at Ivanovo in Russia.
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