Re: Dictionary formats

taliesin wrote:

>* Andreas Johansson said on 2002-03-31 15:38:48 +0200
> > A trouble with dictionaries (mine at any rate) is that they make
>everything
> > look like a relex. F'rinstance, the Tairezazh words _gravun_ and
>_elkergast_
> > refer to quite different state structures, yet both are translated to
> > English as "empire"*!
>
>So you have a longer description for each word stating the differences,
>with crossreferences, like a real dictionary. (The multi-volume kind.)
>
>Here's an attempt made from your example:
>
>* An _elkergast_, meaning litterally "emperor-rule-ing", refers basically
>to a centralized hereditary monarchy. See also _gravun_. In these terms
>China 's been a _elkergast_ for most of it's history.
>
>* A _gravun_, from Vaikin _geraviun_ "alone-rule" usually refers to short-
>lived, militarily expansionistic empires. See also _elkergast_. The Mongol
>empire and the empire of Alexander the Great are examples of_gravun_.
We-ell, where I to to a proper dictionary that could safely be used by
others I would be forced to do something on those lines. However, the
dictionaries I actual make are primarily for my own use, and serve mainly as
memory-helpers.

A'course, doing a proper, alphabethic dictionary with explanations of this
kind, etymological notes etc would be a great exercise.

                                                     Andreas

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