Guidelines For Compiling A Monolingual Dictionary

Abstract

The article discusses the linguistic foundations of lexicography as a field of study, focusing on the principles of dictionary compilation. The practice of dictionary-making is a tradition that has developed in parallel with human civilization, language formation, and the emergence of writing. A dictionary not only reflects the daily life of a people but also preserves linguistic traces of civilizations, events, and milestones in human history. Explanatory dictionaries constitute a fundamental type of lexicographic work: they are compiled in a single language and contain the vocabulary, phraseology, and meanings of words of a national language. This article traces the development of explanatory dictionaries from the earliest lexicographic monuments, such as the Chinese Erya, to modern explanatory dictionaries of the Kazakh language, including the 15-volume Dictionary of the Kazakh Literary Language edited by I. Kenesbaev and A. Iskakov. The article also highlights key considerations in compiling a monolingual explanatory dictionary, such as preparatory stages, guiding principles, and essential parameters. In addition, the paper outlines basic rules that assist in dictionary compilation—defining entries, abbreviations, arrangement of material, illustrative examples, and markers of stylistic features—emphasizing their importance in lexicographic practice. Through the Explanatory Dictionary, it is possible to present the national language to the world, Master global trends, and use global opportunities. Because the Explanatory Dictionary fully covers the national language. The only solution is to digitize the national language through an electronic Explanatory Dictionary.