Functional Units Ordering in Modern Arab Dictionaries.

Abstract

This study aims to uncover the disorder of modern dictionaries in ordering functional units, and to highlight practical variations in the development of ingriedents of this linguistic inventory. We have adopted three institutional dictionaries, namely "the Intermediate Dictionary", "the Basic Arabic Dictionary" and "the Contemporary Arabic Dictionary". We have analyzed the methods and mechanisms of ordering at the micro-and-macro structure levels. We have adopted a method of description and observation that has led us to extrapolate and analyze the material to be studied and to fix the laws of its operation within the lexical ordering sphere. We have also benefited from the statistical method in providing lists of the number of basic and secondary entrances. 

We have found that modern dictionaries have not adhered to certain controls in the ordering of functional units, nor have they been based on a consistent standard measure in their ordering and entries, as functional units have been divided between the main and sub-entries and have been offered as means of explanation and definition. Some units have been given in two different chapters. The study also shows that the location of the functional unit was not clearly determined in the micro order between verbs, names and adjectives. These manifestations reflect incongrunecy, asymmetry and irregularity in the ordering of the components of this linguistic inventory. This confusion is due to the lack of precise controls governing the ordering system. Yet, this may not apply to the Contemporary Arabic Dictionary to some extent, as most functional units have been highlighted in the main entries of the dictionary, and it has taken care of highlighting the composite units and those arising from agglutination and compounding and expanded in the referral entries. This is a serious attempt that has been made within the context of the industry of modern dictionaries, which should be adopted and applied by dictionary compliers in future lexicographical work.