English-Chinese Dictionary (Volume 2)

Author: Lu Gusu, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-08-01
Features: The English-Chinese Dictionary (hereinafter referred to as "the Dictionary") was the largest English-Chinese bilingual dictionary within the National Plan for the Compilation and Publication of Bilingual Language Dictionaries of the People's Republic of China from 1975, involving over a hundred scholars and spanning more than a decade of painstaking effort. It was also one of the key projects under the Seventh Five-Year Plan (1986-1990) for philosophy and social sciences. The Dictionary contains 200,000 entries, 14 appendices, and approximately 20 million words.
Guided by the principle of independent compilation (rather than translation-compilation), the Dictionary built its own hand-collected corpus of language materials, drawing on the strengths of over 100 English dictionaries and other reference books from the United States and the United Kingdom (see the main reference for details). It selectively utilized the cultural heritage of previous generations, reflecting the achievements and standards of English corpus construction and academic research in China.
The Dictionary aligns with the international trend since the 1960s that emphasizes objective description in lexicography. In terms of word selection, definitions, example sentences, and etymological explanations, it focuses on objectively describing the actual usage of various types of English in different styles and contexts, accurately recording the evolution of word meanings and forms over time, and avoiding subjective judgments or arbitrary decisions about their superiority or suitability.
In addition to lexical entries, the Dictionary pays attention to including proper names such as personal names, geographical names, and names of organizations. It also incorporates historical events, myths and legends, religious schools, cultural groups, customs, entertainment genres, technical fields, product trademarks, and specialized terms from natural and social sciences, striving to encompass as much encyclopedic information as possible. While ensuring practicality across various levels, it also aims to enhance the stability and of the content, ensuring that changes in personnel and circumstances do not affect the Dictionary's effective lifespan and that the scholarly tone does not stifle readers' lively curiosity for knowledge.
In short, the Dictionary targets academic rigor, practicality, knowledge, stability, and.
The Dictionary was compiled by scholars from multiple universities and cultural institutions, including Fudan University, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai Translation Publishing House, Shanghai Normal University, East China Normal University, East China Institute of Chemical Technology, Tongji University, and Shanghai Institute of Education. They collaborated with dedication and meticulous effort. We fully recognize that the compilation of bilingual dictionaries is a fundamental cultural undertaking, reflecting a nation's cultural strength and must not be approached with carelessness.
We also understand the objective laws of lexicography, which are stern for everyone: the Oxford English Dictionary, a 12-volume work, took over 70 years from design to completion, even in the computer era. Its supplements alone took 29 years to finish. Meanwhile, the Second Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (20 volumes), co-authored by scholars from the UK, the US, and Canada with the help of computers, was published only 61 years after the first edition appeared in spring 1989. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary in the US, since its first edition in 1828 by Noah Webster, has taken over a century and a half to produce only three editions. These precedents demonstrate that independent compilation involving extensive research and integration of materials is inherently complex, demanding significant intellectual investment and a long duration—impossible to rush.
Given this understanding, we can only labor diligently, refine our work repeatedly, strive for excellence, and immerse ourselves in the meticulous details of lexicography for years, using the conscience and dedication of scholars to achieve enduring cultural benefits.