The use of slashes as a lexicographic device, with special reference to the African languages

Abstract

Lexicographers constantly strive to improve the quality of their dictionaries In respect of enhanced information retrieval strategies. The use of forward slashes is a powerful convention available to the lexicographer as—especially in paper dictionaries—a space saving device. It is however a prerequisite to good lexicography that the use of such a convention should: (i) be consistent, (ii) lead to unambiguous information retrieval, (iii) be clearly explained in the users' guide to the dictionary, and (iv) not exceed the decoding abilities of the target users of the dictionary. The aim of this article is firstly to give a perspective on the use of slashes as a dictionary convention, secondly to conduct a case study of the use of forward slashes in the central text of the Northern Sotho Terminology and Orthography No. 4, and finally to formulate a set of rules governing the use of forward slashes.