An Investigation of Corpus Contributions to Lexicographic Challenges over the Past Ten Years

Abstract

This study explores the role of corpus linguistics in addressing lexicographic challenges over the past ten years. It examines 25 studies published from 2012 to 2021 that employed corpus solutions to solve lexicographic problems. Challenging tasks are either relevant to the macrostructure or the microstructure of dictionaries. In the past decade, lexicographers made extensive use of corpus tools to create dictionaries and improve existing ones. This effort included compiling general and specialized headword lists, identifying idiom variations, detecting collocational patterns, identifying and ordering words senses and differentiating polysemous words and near-synonyms. Frequency, keyword extraction, and word sketches are among the most effective aids for lexicographers. According to the investigated studies, almost all dictionaries may benefit from corpus tools at the macro and microstructure levels.