Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 1998. Vol. 2. Eger Journal of English Studies.(Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 26)

Studies - Edit Gaál: Dictionaries and methaphors: a consideration of the presentation of methaphoric usages in a selection of dictonaries

modifications or extensions in the course of time. In the analysis I consistently use the term 'metaphorical meaning or usage' by which I understand all those senses or meanings of the words listed in the dictionaries which can be used in the typical model of a metaphor; 'something is (like)/(as) something else'. Based on the data gained, there seem to be two basic lines of thought for analysis. One is how the different dictionaries deal with metaphorical meanings: what do they include and under what labels; the other is the connection between the number of metaphorical meanings enlisted in the given resources and the prototypical elements of the basic meanings of the words. Taking the first line of thought, one difference we can see is in the treatment of metaphorical meaning between the Cambridge International Dictionary of English (CIDE) and the American Heritage Dictionary (AHD) and the other two dictionaries. CIDE does not absolutely neglect figurative usages, but, consistent with its main aim, focuses more on the clear definition of the basic meaning of the words than on their other senses. It selects metaphoric usages according to one main criterion whether the meaning has undergone full institutionalisation as a lexical unit, or not. Under the entry 'duck' CIDE gives only one metaphorical meaning: 'Br dated infml someone you like Come and sit beside me, duck, (as form of address) -Be a duck and (=Please) get me a glass of water', the one that all the other dictionaries notify in a way as well. On the other hand, CIDE occasionally gives metaphorical usages of words that other dictionaries do not record, like with 'duck': • ' (infml) if you take to something like a duck to water, you discover that you have a natural ability to do it and like it very much: He took to fatherhood like a duck to water. ' and with 'lily': ' (Am slang disapproving) lily-white can also mean CAUCASIAN

'. AHD lists less metaphorical usages than any of the other dictionaries. There are two words in the examined stock: 'lily' and 'lung', which have no metaphorical meanings given at all, and under the entry 'donkey' only the commonly recorded meanings: 'Slang. An obstinate person

' and 'Slang. A stupid person

' are listed. All the others list donkey jacket, donkey's years and donkey-work. While the number of metaphorical meanings is few, AHD records meanings that are unique compared to those in the other resources. 'Duck' has meanings like 'An amphibious military truck used during World War II. ' and 'An amphibious truck used in emergencies, as to evacuate flood victims'

, and under the entry 'rose' meaning 9 is 'roses. That which is marked by favor, success, or ease of execution: Directing this play has been all roses since the new producer took over. ' 107