Topic: DICTIONARIES AS SECONDARY INFORMATION SOURCES | UGC NET Library and Information Science
A dictionary is a reference work that provides meanings, pronunciation, etymology, and usage of words or terms, usually presented alphabetically. These are secondary sources, as they compile, define, and interpret established knowledge rather than conveying original research.
Types of Dictionaries
Based on the number of words, scope and coverage of other items of information, the dictionaries can be categorized into following groups:
• General Language Dictionaries;
• Subject Dictionaries;
• Special Dictionaries; and
• Translating Dictionaries
General Language Dictionaries can be further categorized based on purpose, size and target user group as follows:
According to size:
• Unabridged Dictionary
• Abridged, Desk or College Dictionary
• Pocket Dictionary
According to target user group:
• Adults
• Young Adults
• Children
According to purpose:
• Prescriptive
• Descriptive
HISTORICAL EVOLUTION & EXAMPLES
1. General Language Dictionaries
Samuel Johnson’s A Dictionary of the English Language
Published: April 15, 1755, London
Compiler: Samuel Johnson (1709–1784); printed by W. Strahan and others
Considered one of the first comprehensive English dictionaries, featuring ~42,773 entries with ~114,000 illustrative quotations.
Noah Webster’s An American Dictionary of the English Language
Published: 1828, USA by Garfield & Co.
Standardized American English spelling and usage in a later edition published under Merriam‑Webster following acquisition in 1843.
Oxford English Dictionary (OED)
Initiated: 1857 by the Philological Society (London)
First fascicle (“A–Ant”) issued Feb 1, 1884; complete 10‑volume edition finished April 1928; retitled “OED” officially in 1933
OED Online launched March 2000, with searchable, continually updated content.
Concise Oxford English Dictionary
First edition: 1911, to serve as a compact, modern-language reference from OUP.
Merriam‑Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
First edition: 1898 by Merriam‑Webster, building on Noah Webster’s earlier work.
2. Biographical Dictionaries
National Biographical Dictionary of India
Published: 1972 by Jagdish Saran Sharma (Sterling Publishers)
Focuses on prominent Indian personalities.
Dictionary of National Biography (India)
Published: 1972–74, by S. P. Sen under Institute of Historical Studies, Calcutta
Contains biographical entries on notable Indian figures.
3. Subject‑Specific Dictionaries
Black’s Law Dictionary
First published: 1891 by Henry Campbell Black, West Publishing Co. (later Thomson Reuters)
Recognized as a foundational U.S. legal dictionary.
Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary
First issued: 1898 by Elsevier/Mosby; illustrated and widely used for medical terminology.
Dictionary of Library & Information Science (Joan M. Reitz)
Published: 2004, Libraries Unlimited/ABC-CLIO; contains ~4,000 LIS terms.
4. Technical & Trade Dictionaries
Dictionary of Business & Management
Published by Oxford University Press; covers key business terms.
Dictionary of Computing
Also OUP; includes terminology from information technology and computing.
5. Encyclopedic Dictionaries
The Encyclopaedic Dictionary by Thomas Wright
Published: 1852; combines exhaustive definitions with broader explanatory content.
The Penguin English Dictionary
Modern reference incorporating dictionary and encyclopedic features for general audience usage.
6. Bilingual & Multilingual Dictionaries
Larousse French–English Dictionary (Larousse, France)
A reputed bilingual French–English resource.
Oxford Advanced Learner’s English–Chinese Dictionary
Aimed at English language learners with Chinese translations and usage examples.
Collins Spanish–English Dictionary
Focused on contemporary usage, idioms, and grammar nuances.
WHY DICTIONARIES ARE SECONDARY SOURCES
They interpret, summarize, and organize meanings derived from primary sources such as literature, spoken usage, scientific texts, or expert knowledge.
None of the listed dictionaries presents original research or data; they compile knowledge for reference.
LIMITATIONS
- May not include emerging slang or highly specialized jargon.
- Print editions can become outdated; digital updates are essential.
- May reflect cultural or linguistic biases toward dominant languages or regions.