Microsoft Word Lx14steyn doc

4.7 Conclusion 
Renovation in present-day learner's dictionaries focuses particularly on the 
inner access structures and rapid inner access structures. In many cases, these 
changes increased the quality of the dictionary, but it can also lead to an in-
creased text density. This special balance that must be maintained is expressed 
as follows by Svensen (1993: 16): "It is not merely the information needs of dif-
ferent categories of users that are of importance. An equally important factor is 
their ability to find and make use of the information given. Here the lexicogra-
pher is forced into a difficult balancing act. On the one hand, the dictionary 
must contain as much information as possible without becoming unnecessarily 
bulky. On the other hand, this information must not be so compressed that the 
intended user will not be able to utilise it." 
5. Meta-access 
structure 
A third and last aspect of the access structure which will not be addressed in 
this article is the meta-access structure. This refers to the language in which 
data is presented. Hausmann and Wiegand (1989: 341) argue that from one and 
the same lexicographic data unit or treatment unit two different users may 
reconstruct different information. In order for the user to extract this informa-
tion the language usage should match the target user group of the dictionary. 
Therefore the language used in the front and back texts of the dictionary as 
well as definitions, examples etc. should be accessible. The metalanguage 
should therefore also help the user to retrieve information as easily and rapidly 
as possible. 
6. 
Three important questions 
When the access structure in learner's dictionaries are considered, as is the case 
in this article, certain questions immediately arise. 
1. 
What is the use of the access structure in general? 
2. 
Is there a difference between the access structure of general dictionaries 
and learner's dictionaries? 
3. 
Do different levels of learners affect the access structure? 

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The Access Structure in Learner's Dictionaries 
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