Evaluation of Dictionaries

In this section, we will touch upon some evaluation criteria which are useful for you in assessing the value of any dictionary you intend to acquire either for your personal use or for the reference collection of a library.

The advancement in lexicography as science in the last few decades has resulted in the publication of a number of new dictionaries. At the same time, the old ones, have often been revised, updated and brought out as new editions with more accurate information and in a new form or format. It is not possible for the librarian to purchase all the available dictionaries. At the same time one cannot expect any dictionary to be perfect. Dr. Johnson rightly observed while comparing dictionaries with watches that "the worst is better than none and the best cannot be accurate and self-sufficient. Language undergoes change continuously as new words are added and old ones become obsolete. Thus, the librarian has to examine the dictionary carefully before addition to the collections. He has to evaluate the value both in terms of money and contents.

The criteria on the basis of which dictionaries are evaluated-

1. Authority 
2. Scope or purpose 
3. Word arrangement and word treatment 
4. Format 
5. Special features