French digital lexicography: Metamorphosis, Status Quo and Future Directions
Résumé
Lexicography, traditionally centered on the collection and organization of a language's vocabulary, the creation of language dictionaries (Rey-Debove 1970; Neuveu 2011: 215), has undergone a profound transformation with the integration of computer technologies, ushering in the era of computerized (Béjoint 2007; Martin 2008; Aquino-Weber & Greub 2020, etc.) or digital (Molinari 2021; Molinari and Vincent 2021, etc. Pruvost 2000) lexicography. This “metamorphosis, from incunabula to virtual space” (Pruvost 2011), was initially catalyzed by the incorporation of IT tools into lexicographical practices. This transformation became more complex with the emergence of the Internet and the development of contributory lexicography, illustrating a series of successive and diversified transformations that have redefined the very nature of lexicography in the digital age. As emphasized by (meta)lexicographers (Pruvost 2000, 2004, [2006] 2021, 2014; Jacquet-Pfau 2005; Béjoint 2007; Polguère 2014, 2018; Mejri 2020; Vincent 2023, etc.), the integration of digital technology into the lexicographic field has profoundly redefined dictionaries' spatial engagement, enriching their functionalities, but has also transformed a redesign of their architecture. This far-reaching evolution has highlighted the growing importance of digital lexical resources, both in terms of accessibility and diversity of use. However, it should be acknowledge that this transformation also, and perhaps above all, relies on the active involvement of the readership, who participate in collaborative projects inspired by the principles of participatory science. This new dynamic is reinforced by the development of lexicographic techniques and tools that adopt user-centric approaches, placing their experiences and needs at the heart of innovation (Dolar, Gasparini and Steffens 2023).
This far-reaching transformation of French lexicography, propelled by digital technologies, is structured around several major areas of development.
On the one hand, augmented digital publishing represents a revolution in the way dictionaries are enriched (from the "retro-conversion" of old dictionaries to the establishment of encoding standards such as XML TEI DTD, see the work of Quemada, Wooldridge, Wionet, Turban, Tutin, Rey, Geoffrey Clive Williams, Hervé Bohbot, etc.). Digital formats (HTML, TMX, ODBC, RDF) also offer unprecedented possibilities for interaction and real-time updating.
On the other hand, the emergence of natively digital collaborative works illustrates the potential for co-creation and knowledge sharing within diverse communities, transcending the traditional barriers of lexicography (eg. DDF).
Thus, France boasts a rich variety of online resources, including historical dictionaries (Furetières, Littré, …), general (Larousse, Robert), academic (Trésor de la langue française informatisé), collaborative (Wiktionnaire, Dictionnaire des ados, …), participatory (Dictionnaire des Francophones, DDF), institutional (Dictionnaire de l'Académie française), specialized (Dictionnaire des synonymes du CRISCO, …), etc.
At the same time, the rise of Linked Lexical Open Data (LLOD) promotes interconnectivity between lexicographic resources, thus facilitating the cross-integration and analysis of large/vast datasets (following the FAIR principles: Findable, Accessible , Interoperable, Reusable).
Finally, the interface - or sometimes interference - with digital assistants trained on Big data represents both a challenge and an opportunity for lexicography, requiring in-depth reflection on the role of dictionaries in the current information ecosystem. These different paths of evolution, which are currently being explored, outline the contours of a lexicography that is not only digitized, but truly transformed by digital technology.
The recognition of these axes illustrates the importance of articulating innovations to better grasp the current and future challenges of digital lexicography. Thus, this article aims to explore the metamorphosis, focusing on an inventory of digital lexicography in France (limiting our presentation to French monolingual dictionaries), and endeavoring to sketch out future directions for this continually evolving field.