Discover the TYPES of DICTIONARIES

In this lesson from a TEACHER we will explain the different Types of dictionaries that we can find. The types of dictionaries are the so-called general dictionaries such as the DRAE (Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy), those of use, ideological dictionary, etymological dictionaries, bilingual dictionaries, dictionaries of synonyms and antonyms, encyclopedic dictionaries, specialized dictionaries:, the dictionaries of doubts and the inverse dictionaries or of rhymes.

You will also find a video in which a summary of these types of dictionaries is made explained and we will give you concrete examples in case you want to buy or consult them. In addition, you can practice what you learned in today's lesson if you do the printable exercises with their solutions that you will find at the end of the lesson.

Index

1. What is a dictionary: Definition for children
2. The different types of dictionaries
3. Other kinds of dictionaries

Before we start talking about the different types of dictionaries it is important that we stop briefly to know what a dictionary is and understand what type of publication we are dealing with. A dictionary is a book that has the definitions of words or set of words of a language. It is arranged alphabetically and, in addition to the definition of the term, it can also include the meaning of expressions.

The dictionaries include both etymological aspects of words, such as spelling and semantics. Lexicographers are the professionals in charge of collecting these words and including their descriptions in these general reference manuals.

The first dictionaries to appear in the world originated in Mesopotamia. It was the civilization of the Sumerians those who collected all their knowledge in texts that, to this day, are still preserved. These dictionaries were written in the cuneiform writing since they did not have our alphabet.

Parts of a dictionary

The dictionary can be divided into different parts and that offers us essential information about each word that we are consulting. The parts are as follows:

• Entrance (also known as "motto")
• Slogan pronunciation
• Etymology
• Grammatical category
• Definition of the concept
• The meanings that exist (if there is any)
• Use of that word

Let's get into the topic at hand and talk about the different types of dictionaries that exist currently. You should know that they are usually categorized in different ways, however, here we are going to offer you a list as a summary so that you better understand this lesson:

Lexical dictionaries

Without those who define the different meanings that slogans have. They can be found of different classes:

• Normative dictionaries: are the publications in which you can see the words and meanings that are recognized by the authorities. In the case of the Spanish language, these would be the terms recognized by the Royal Spanish Academy.
• Of use: they are the ones that collect all the words that the speakers use. These dictionaries are usually accompanied by examples and explanations.
• Specialized: are those that offer us detailed information on specific topics. For example, there are dictionaries of linguistics, others of economics and so on. In fact, within the specialized ones we find other subgroups such as etymological dictionaries (which give us information about the origins of words), synonyms / antonyms, dictionaries of doubts, etc.

Encyclopedic dictionaries

Another of the types of dictionaries that we have to know are encyclopedic, that is, publications that in addition to including the meaning of the word also offers more extensive information about the finished. For example, in these dictionaries you can find general information about important people in history, countries, etc.

Bilingual dictionaries

They are those publications that are designed for language learning. In the same publication, the word in language A is translated into language B so that the reader can understand its meaning in their language.

Ideological dictionaries

Another of the most common kinds of dictionaries are ideological ones, that is, dictionaries that are grouped by ideas. For example, in these publications if we search for the word "flower" we will have to go to the nature section.

In addition to the types of dictionaries that we just mentioned (and which are the most common), there are also other kinds of dictionaries that are worth knowing. They are as follows:

• Phraseological dictionaries: are those that collect the expressions or phrases that are used in a community of speakers.
• Of rhymes: They are dictionaries designed to be able to create verses with rhymes in a simple way. They are ordered by the last syllables.
• Visual dictionaries: It is one of the rarest and least used, however, it is interesting to know its existence. These dictionaries are characterized because, in them, the important thing is the image, not the word. Each image is intended to be associated with a word.

If you want to read more articles similar to Types of dictionaries, we recommend that you enter our category of Dictionary.