Portals to Knowledge: CD-ROM Encyclopaedias, with Specific Reference to<i> Microsoft Encarta 99 Encyclopedia</i>

Abstract

The close interaction between linguistics and lexicography over the last few decades has had many good effects, not least of which has been the development of a theoretical framework or meta lexicography. However, this close link has had an unfortunate result: the marginalisation in the theoretical debate of nonlinguistic dictionaries and especially of the encyclopaedia. In this article, semantic, lexicographical and pragmatic motivations will be given for a renewed interest in encyclopaedias. The revolution caused by CD-ROM encyclopaedias and the benefits they hold for a large spectrum of users, will be the most important pragmatic motivations addressed. Microsoft Encarta 99 Encyclopedia will act as a guide for the exploration of the impact this revolution has had on the ideas of user-friendliness and dictionary accessibility. Finally, a future is envisioned in which the Internet will be the logical culmination of the ultimate potential of computers as accessible, user-friendly reference tools.

Keywords:  access structure, active cross-references, cd-rom encyclopaedia, dictionary accessibility, encyclopaedia, guide slructures, inner access slructure, inner search pa1h, internet, linguistic dictionary, medioslructure, multimedia, non linguistic dictionary, outer access slructure, outer search path, passive cross-referencing, user-friendliness