Pronunciation dictionary
A pronunciation dictionary is a dictionary that specifies how the words in a language are pronounced. The pronunciation of each word is given in phonetic transcription. In electronic word processing, pronunciation dictionaries or pronunciation dictionary databases with acoustic representation are also used.
Pronunciation dictionaries can in principle be developed for any regional ( dialect ) or social form of a language ( sociolect ); in many cases they reflect a standard wording of the language in question. In the case of languages such as English, which are widespread in many areas of the world, different pronunciation standards have developed, which must be documented by the relevant dictionaries.
Pronunciation dictionaries differ from other dictionaries in two ways: They are largely limited to information on pronunciation, and they usually give the pronunciation of "all" words, as they are also recorded in a spelling dictionary (with the exception of compound words, for example Words or phrases). Dictionaries that contain other information in addition to pronunciation information (such as grammar, meaning and word usage) are not referred to as pronunciation dictionaries. Many such dictionaries only give the pronunciation of those words for which it cannot be easily read from the spelling.
On the meaning of pronunciation dictionaries
Pronunciation dictionaries often have the function of providing members of a language community or people learning a language with the correct pronunciation of the words. In doing so, you set standards for pronunciation, which those who have to speak in public adhere to: e.g. B. the speakers on radio or television, actors, teachers. They are also important for teaching in schools and universities or for dealing with authorities and courts, as they provide orientation for the correct use of the language and thus contribute to ensuring successful communication.
For example, there is a strong tendency in German, words like "Bear", "cheese" or "girl" with a closed long e (phonetic spelling: [ É ] ) make; for the high German : but only an open long ä (phonetic notation applies in such cases, [ Ɛ ] as correct). A pronunciation dictionary clarifies such doubtful cases.
Most dictionary buyers buy a dictionary instead of a pronunciation dictionary that provides them with more information, such as spelling variations, grammar and word usage. Often only limited information on pronunciation is given in such a dictionary: for example, the emphasis on keywords is marked, otherwise phonetic transcription only for words with dubious pronunciation. Bilingual dictionaries for users who are learning or using a foreign language, in principle, indicate the pronunciation of "all" words in the foreign language - but again in addition to other information such as translation, grammar and examples of word usage. Bilingual dictionaries are therefore also not considered to be pronunciation dictionaries.
German pronunciation dictionaries
- Theodor Siebs : German stage debate . 1st edition 1898. Numerous editions. Title of the 19th edition (1969): German pronunciation .
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Wilhelm Viëtor : German pronunciation dictionary .
- 1st edition: OR Reisland, Leipzig 1912 (1st delivery 1908).
- 2nd edition: OR Reisland, Leipzig 1915.
- 3rd, revised edition, obtained from Ernst A. Meyer: O. R. Reisland, Leipzig 1921.
Reprints of this 3rd edition: Outlook: Bremen 2011, ISBN 978-3-86403-131-1 ; Europäische Hochschulverlag, Bremen 2011, ISBN 978-3-8457-2009-8 . - 4th and 5th edition, revised and expanded with an appendix, obtained from Ernst A. Meyer: O. R. Reisland, Leipzig 1931.
- Duden. Pronunciation dictionary. 6th, revised and updated edition. Edited by Max Mangold in collaboration with the Duden editorial team. Dudenverlag, Mannheim / Leipzig / Vienna / Zurich 2005. ISBN 978-3-411-04066-7 .
- Rudolf Muhr : Austrian pronunciation dictionary. Austrian pronunciation database. Peter Lang, Frankfurt 2007. ISBN 978-3-631-55414-2 . The only pronunciation dictionary for Austrian German so far .
- Eva-Maria Krech , Eberhard Stock , Ursula Hirschfeld , Lutz Christian Anders : German pronunciation dictionary. With contributions by Walter Haas , Ingrid Hove and Peter Wiesinger . de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2009. ISBN 978-3-11-018202-6 .
- Carsten Keil: Frankfurt pronunciation dictionary , 2017-2018 ( online ), an example of a Regiolekt pronunciation dictionary.
