Definitions meet statistics. On defining vocabulary in the Academic dictionary of contemporary Czech

Abstract

Abstract So-called defining vocabularies, understood as systematically selected sets of lexical items used in the formulation of dictionary definitions, can be traced back to the 1920s; however, their regular and systematic application – particularly in learners’ dictionaries – has become established in English-language lexicography since the 1970s. This study examines defining vocabulary in monolingual lexicography, with the Academic Dictionary of Contemporary Czech (Czech Language Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences) serving as the primary object of analysis. The research is based on corpus-linguistic methods drawing on data from the Czech National Corpus. The study aims to demonstrate that even relatively simple quantitative measures may enhance the quality and comprehensibility of dictionary definitions and to formulate recommendations relevant to future lexicographic practice.