The Mental Lexicon in Lexicography: The Diccionarios Valladolid-UVa

Abstract

This article analyzes the possibility of making dictionaries that take into consideration the mental lexicon, i.e. words do not work in isolation; instead, they are dynamic constructs that are activated, stored, processed and retrieved gradually. For that, it proposes several general lexicographical and methodological ideas and illustrates them referring to their implementation in the Diccionarios Valladolid-UVa: (a) dictionary types are a thing of the past; (b) words are not only holistic products but also processes that are always on the move; consequently their descriptions in dictionaries must be as complete and precise as possible; (c) dictionaries must be equipped with dynamic search system, e.g. systems for allowing human and machine-users search and retrieve a la carte, e.g. in a speaking situation; (d) there must be a huge number of words and other data types for describing each meaning and usage of each lemma, thus favoring the creation of patterns and the learning process associated with Artificial Intelligence (AI); (e) designing and making online dictionaries is a cooperative process in which lexicographers and several types of experts must participate; (f) the main task of lexicographers is the preparation of lexicographical data, which can be used in many different forms, formats and usages, being the making of dictionaries one of them.