International Journal of Lexicography Advance Access first published online on October 12, 2009
This version published online on November 4, 2009
International Journal of Lexicography, doi:10.1093/ijl/ecp027
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bibliometrics in Lexicography
Department of African Languages and Cultures, Ghent University; Xhosa Department, University of the Western Cape; and TshwaneDJe HLT (gillesmaurice.deschryver{at}UGent.be)
 |
Abstract |
|---|
Bibliometric methods may be used to study the impact of a field, the impact of certain trends and researchers within that field, and of course the impact of particular research articles. This is no different for the field of lexicography, and the output of both metalexicographers and dictionary makers alike is increasingly being measured and quantified. Analysing such data enables one (a) to track the growing and waning popularity of certain lexicographic sub-fields, (b) to pinpoint the new directions heralded by specific lexicographic papers or by new types of dictionaries, and (c) to map the lexicographic schools of thought that have formed around some of the pioneering or most productive scholars. In this article, bibliometrics in lexicography are investigated by taking the International Journal of Lexicography as the centre piece. In the first half of the article, various bibliometric tools relevant to lexicography are introduced, and in the second half these tools are used to show that lexicography has truly become an independent discipline. In the process, comparisons are also made with two other lexicographic journals (Dictionaries and Lexikos), as well as with two journals from other disciplines (Linguistics and Applied Linguistics).