ONE of the most exciting moments in human history is the emergence of a new field of knowledge. Quite a few have developed in modern times — computer science, linguistics (and its branches), etc. — and we are about to witness the creation of yet another new field emerging from what has so far been known as lexicography.
Lexicography, defined as the making/compilation of dictionaries, has long been known but only in the past four decades has the study of lexicography as an independent field of knowledge began to develop. Since the turn of the 20th century, many have been involved in making dictionaries and in teaching how to make them but only a handful of Western scholars have contributed to the making of the new discipline. Arguably the most important are Edward Gates, Ladsilav Zgusta and Reinhard Hartmann.
Although a number of courses in lexicography were taught as early as 1925 in North America, it was Reinhard Hartmann in the United Kingdom who was actually responsible for transforming it into a field of theoretical research. Hartmann has taken lexicography to almost all corners of the world and has played a major role in research. It was Hartmann who sparked the founding of the first association for lexicography, the EURALEX (European Association for Lexicography), founded in 1983 at the University of Exeter, UK. Its success achieved through its conferences, activities and publications fostered the founding of other international associations — AFRILEX (African Association for Lexicography) and ASIALEX (Asian Association for Lexicography).
Hartmann’s role in stimulating international interest in the field as an area of scientific research is not disputed. In addition to a number of articles, he has also attracted numerous students of linguistics from all over the world and made them into lexicographic “time bombs.” As the new scholars return to their countries, they strengthen the emerging discipline by studying its problems more deeply and applying its theories and practices to the world’s languages. The greatest contribution that Hartmann has made, however, has been the teaching and supervision of young students and researchers. He and his group have won global credit and critical acclaim and have convinced many linguists to acknowledge lexicography as a serious and worthy area of research. The production of studies, ideas and results has enriched the discipline to the extent that the effects could be easily synthesized into an independent school of lexicographic thought which may correctly called the Hartmannian School.
Hartmann helped create and define much of the discipline’s terminology and theoretical bases. The teaching of lexicography in academic institutions may date back to earlier than the age of Hartmann but it only aimed at preparing would-be dictionary makers or instructing dictionary users. With this in view, the scholars involved hardly thought of theorizing lexicography into a study that extends beyond the actual practice.
Hartmann’s linguistic approach has influenced linguists into redirecting methodologies in researching linguistic topics. My own doctoral research in linguistics demonstrated some of the possible links between pure linguistics and emerging linguistic studies such as translation and lexicography. It is time linguists recognized these two as being independent of each other. They are not necessarily branches of linguistics or applied linguistics, as they are producing their own principles and distinct theoretical attitudes. They are definitely closely related to the goals of linguistics in that they too attempt to serve languages and their studies.
The roles of other linguists and lexicographers in preparing the field are not to be minimized but a heroic figure like Hartmann has taken the lead. Lexicographic linguistics is finally a theoretical discipline and is served by its own specialized scholars. As Hartmann retires, it is advisable for linguists and relevant organizations to put more effort into shaping the discipline’s boundaries, both theoretical and practical. Also, with international efforts by such scholars as Hartmann and Zgusta, approaches in lexicographic linguistics have become more possible.
