Lexicographic Analysis of Homonymy in Modern General Dictionaries: The Case Study of Tatar Language

Abstract

In the current study, it was tried to investigate the features of dictionary description of lexical homonymy using bilingual language reference books of general type, included in the digital corpus of Tatar dictionaries. The type of homonyms and their part-of-speech characteristics are analyzed (with quantitative data).  Comparative analysis revealed the differences in dictionaries related to the interpretation of "homonym" notion, characterization of units with similar formatting, an indication of a part of speech, etc. The article presents the materials found in the course of the research, which testify to the mistakes and drawbacks in presentation and description of homonymy (omissions of units, lack of individual labelling of homonymic units or incorrect labelling, discrepancies between interpretation and formatting). Many of these drawbacks are primarily due to the heterogenic description of the units forming a single lexicographic class. The authors substantiate the relevance of a comprehensive approach to registering words with a similar form in dictionaries; under the broader diffusion of written communication, lexicography should treat homonyms as units with identical graphical appearance.