Adapting an electronic dictionary to a lay audience

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Adapting an electronic dictionary to a lay
audience

• J. Buysschaert (Hogeschool Gent)
• Terminology and society - Antwerp Nov 2006

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Not just for lexicographers terminologists

• Electronic dictionaries
• Terminology Management Systems

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Search options

• Fuzzy searchcommision finds commission
• Substring searchclass finds first class,
  business class, subclass
• Suggestions as you typetermino finds
  terminology
• Hidden, clearly displayed, automatic?

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Fuzzy search

• Van Dale EN-NLkommunication ? No
• Van Dale Groot Woordenboekcubiek ?
  Nokommunicatie ? No unless you switch search
  mode
• Longman Dictionary of contemporary
  Englishkommunication ? communication

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Substring search

• Van Dale Groot Woordenboekcommunicatie?
  Nocompounds found unless you switch search mode
• Longman Dictionary of contemporary
  English(communication ? No)projector ? overhead
  projector, slide projector

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Electronic Dictionary of Communication
Terminology (EDiCT)

• Started 1990 as the CERP-project, based on an
  existing multilingual word list
• Later expanded with terms from other word lists
• Terminology of business communication, marketing,
  PR, the media
• Detailed term record, Multiterm-compatible
  examples

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Electronic Lexicon of Communication Terminology
(ELeCT)

• Shorthand version for translators, copywriters
  etc.
• User-friendly
• Attempt to encourage users to experiment with
  search modes
• illustration

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Same holds true for TMSs

• The old Multiterm (mtw-format)
• Fuzzy search needs create fuzzy index and
  -symbol.
• Substring search or .
• ELeCT-software could be turned into a TMS
  (EasyTerm)

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In conclusion

• Make search options user-friendly
• Encourage users to make use of different search
  options.