This article focuses on the problems, and advantages and disadvantages of the bilingual dictionary from both the lexicographer's and the translator's point of view, with specific reference to bilingual Zulu dictionaries. It is shown that there are many and varying problems the lexicographer has to deal with and take cognisance of when compiling a translation dictionary. Of these, the main problem is the basic lack of equivalence or anisomorphism which exists between languages. This non-equivalence between languages is also the root cause of the difficulties with which the translator or user of the bilingual dictionary has to contend. The problems experienced by translators therefore overlap to a great extent with those which the lexicographer experiences in compiling a bilingual dictionary. It is concluded that the user of a bilingual dictionary should not only know what to expect to find in a translation dictionary, but must also treat such a dictionary with caution and discernment. It is also shown that there are clear criteria which the lexicographer can follow in compiling a bilingual dictionary, which would then enable the user (and in particular the translator as user) to disambiguate the recorded information successfully.
Keywords: BILINGUAL DICTIONARIES, LEXICOGRAPHER, TRANSLATOR, ISIZULU, PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED BY LEXICOGRAPHERS, PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED BY TRANS-LATORS, NONEQUIVALENCE BETWEEN LANGUAGES, CHARACTER, SHORTCOMINGS AND ADVANTAGES OF BILINGUAL DICTIONARIES
Opsomming: Tweetalige woordeboeke, die leksikograaf en die vertaler.Die fokus van hierdie artikel is op die probleme, en voor-en nadele van die tweetalige woordeboek vanuit die oogpunt van sowel die leksikograaf as die vertaler, met spesifieke verwysing na tweetalige Zuluwoordeboeke. Daar word aangetoon dat daar baie en uiteenlopende probleme is waaraan die leksikograaf moet aandag gee en waarvan hy/sy moet kennis neem by die samestelling van 'n vertalende woordeboek. Die vernaamste van hierdie probleme is die basiese gebrek aan ekwivalensie of anisomorfisme wat tussen tale bestaan. Hierdie nie-ekwivalensie tussen tale is ook die grondoorsaak van die moeilikhede waarmee die vertaler of gebruiker van die tweetalige woordeboek moet worstel. Die probleme ondervind deur vertalers oorvleuel dus tot 'n groot mate met dié wat die leksikograaf ondervind by die samestellling van 'n tweetalige woordeboek. Daar word tot die slotsom gekom dat die gebruiker van 'n tweetalige woordeboek nie net moet weet wat om van 'n vertalende woordeboek te verwag nie, maar ook so 'n woordeboek omsigtig en oordeelkundig moet benader. Daar word ook getoon dat daar duidelike kriteria bestaan wat die leksikograaf kan volg by die samestelling van 'n tweetalige woordeboek wat die gebruiker (en veral die vertaler as gebruiker) dan in staat sal stel om die opgetekende inligting suksesvol te interpreteer.
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