Etc. The Long-Lasting Defining Device: Unravelling the Mystery

Abstract

Abstract:In its abbreviated form, 'etc.' is a lexicographic device that dates back to the early 15th century. It is used on a large scale in monolingual dictionaries for native speakers and EFL learners to serve a wide range of linguistic patterns. Unfortunately, there seems to be little research on the way this linguistic unit has been used, despite the fact literature abounds with details about dictionary making.This descriptive analytical study reveals the way 'etc.' is used in EFL learner's dictionaries and brings to light some unknown evidence regarding its frequency of occurrence. The bald statistics prepared on the use of 'etc.' in the macrostructure and microstructure of a cross-section of four learner's dictionaries show that it has been widely used, but in many cases it seems dispensable. Analysis of a large body of definitions shows that 'etc.' appeared in the definitions of headwords of all word classes and sometimes more than once in many senses of polysemous lexical items in the range of one to five lexemes preceding 'etc.'This widespread use of 'etc.' may place additional pressure on dictionary users in their desperate attempt to comprehend the definitions. Maybe it is high time that 'etc.' is considered outworn or obsolete and is replaced with something that lends itself to this age of modern technology, where space is no longer a major concern for dictionary makers. Opsomming: 'Etc.' Die lank bestaande definiëringshulpmiddel: Die ontrafeling van die misterie. In sy afgekorte vorm is 'etc.' 'n leksikografiese hulpmiddel wat terugdateer tot vroeg in die 15de eeu. Dit word op groot skaal in eentalige woordeboeke vir moedertaalsprekers en EVT-leerders gebruik om 'n wye verskeidenheid taalpatrone te dien. Ongelukkig blyk daar min navorsing te wees oor die manier waarop hierdie taalkundige eenheid gebruik is, ten spyte daarvan dat daar 'n oorvloed literatuur is met besonderhede van woordeboekmaak. Keywords: LEARNER'S DICTIONARIES, DEFINING TECHNIQUES, STYLE GUIDESHierdie beskrywende analitiese studie dui die manier waarop 'etc.' gebruik word in EVTaanleerderwoordeboeke aan en lê onbekende bewyse bloot oor die frekwensie waarmee dit voorkom. Die onverwerkte statistiek rakende die gebruik van 'etc.' in die makro-en mikrostruktuur van 'n deursnee van vier aanleerderwoordeboeke toon dat dit wyd gebruik is, maar dat dit in baie gevalle weggelaat kan word. Die ontleding van 'n groot groep definisies toon dat 'etc.' voorgekom het in die definisies van trefwoorde van alle woordklasse en soms meer as een keer in baie betekenisse van polisemiese leksikale items in die bestek van een tot vyf lekseme wat 'etc.' voorafgaan het.Hierdie algemene gebruik van 'etc.' mag bykomende druk plaas op woordeboekgebruikers in hulle desperate poging om die definisies te verstaan. Miskien is dit hoog tyd dat 'etc.' as verhttp://lexikos.journals.ac.za Etc. The Long-Lasting Defining Device: Unravelling the Mystery 37 ouderd en uitgedien beskou word en met iets vervang word wat homself leen tot hierdie tydperk van die moderne tegno...

Guessing Verb–Adverb Collocations: Arab EFL Learners' Use of Electronic Dictionaries

“…This suggests that their comprehension and production of collocational competencies varied markedly, with much lower scores for production. This in turn reinforces the author's widely held belief and many researchers' empirical findings that EFL learners will significantly perform better at comprehension than production tasks (Alsakran 2011;Hamad and Laohawiriyanon 2013;Hill and Laufer 2003;Jaén, 2007;etc. ).…”

“…Dictionary compilers invariably include a limited list of collocates in the definitions and there is an expectation that users will correctly deduce the omitted possibilities which 'etc.' represents in the definition (see Alzi'abi 2016a and2016b). It is therefore justifiable to expect that users will be able to correctly guess some of the adverbial collocates that are not listed in the dictionary and are deemed acceptable in the English language (see Xu 2010).…”