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International Journal of Lexicography Advance Access originally published online on February 14, 2008
International Journal of Lexicography 2008 21(1):61-68; doi:10.1093/ijl/ecm040
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© 2008 Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Pronunciation of Acronyms and Abbreviations in e-LDOCE and e-MEDAL1

Wlodzimierz Sobkowiak

School of English, A. Mickiewicz University, Poznan

swlodek{at}ifa.amu.edu.pl


  Abstract

CD-ROM versions of Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners (MEDAL2) and Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (LDOCE4) are compared in terms of their phonetic treatment of acronyms and abbreviations. A-onset acronyms are extracted from both dictionaries as a sample. Fifty-four of these appear in both dictionaries. Only twenty-seven are represented both graphically (phonetic transcription) and audially (recording) in both dictionaries. As many as one-fourth have no phonetic representation of either type. Twelve are recorded in LDOCE4 with no phonetic transcription. Neither dictionary offers an easy way to reliably search specifically for acronyms and abbreviations, although both feature rather sophisticated search menus. A number of errors are observed, both in the graphic and audio representation, as well as in their alignment. This is a striking weakness of the two cutting-edge electronic dictionaries in representing such a linguistically and culturally salient phenomenon.


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