Fundamentals of Reference

20 REFERENCE SOURCES

other dictionaries

Finally, here are some examples of Katz’s “other” category of dictionaries. A

visual dictionary, as defined by Joan M. Reitz, is

a dictionary in which words and phrases (grouped by subject,

theme, or activity) are illustrated, usually in a line drawing on the

same or opposite page, with each term keyed to the corresponding

feature in the diagram by a thin line or small reference number

printed on the illustration.^2

Two recent and well-received visual dictionaries are Merriam-Webster’s Visual

Dictionary and the Ultimate Visual Dictionary. Unlike a typical visual dictio-

nary, Merriam-Webster’s includes dictionary definitions. The Ultimate Visual

Dictionary uses some 6,000 color photographs and illustrations.

Dictionaries of slang go where standard dictionaries may fear to tread:

they include vulgar or socially unacceptable terms and colloquial words and

define them in detail. The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional

English (9th edition, 2 vols.) defines thousands of terms. It is a descendant of

Eric Partridge’s 1937 work, The Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English.

Some of the most frequently asked reference questions involve acronyms

and abbreviations. The Acronyms, Initialisms and Abbreviations Dictionary (44th

edition, 4 vols.) is a standard reference tool that defines a wide variety of

abbreviated forms found in a variety of fields. A companion title is the Reverse

Acronyms, Initialisms and Abbreviations Dictionary (44th edition, 2 vols.), in

which the actual term or organization

is listed first, then the abbreviation or

acronym. Acronym Finder (www.acronym

finder.com) is a free web tool that is also

useful for this type of query.

Although the origins of words

and phrases may certainly be found in

unabridged or historical dictionaries, a

more focused source is often easier to use.

The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and

Phrase Origins is actually an etymological

dictionary offering thousands of entries.

dictionaries

For more information about

dictionaries, consult Kister’s Best

Dictionaries for Adults and Young

People: A Comparative Guide (Oryx,

1992). Although the reviews of

individual titles are now dated,

the discussions about types of

dictionaries, how they are compiled,

and the field of lexicography are

useful and informative.

http://www.ebook3000.com