LING 322: Structure and Meaning of Words
For further assistance, contact Sara Heitshu.
Finding Dictionaries, Histories and Etymologies for a Language in the Library's Catalog
The easiest way to find books about a language is to use SUBJECT HEADINGS.
Subject headings for languages look like this: English language or French language or Japanese language.
Add the word dictionaries or to the string of words so that you now have English language dictionaries in the search box. If you find too many, you may want to use the Limit/Sort option to shorten your list. Here are your options with some sample limits filled in:
LANGUAGE: English
MATERIAL type: Book
Words in the AUTHOR (or TITLE or SUBJECT or PUBLISHER)
WHERE Item is located: Main
YEAR of publication:
After 1990and Before 2008
For books about the history or etymology of a language follow the same process: English language history or English language etymology.
Use the tiny link Call Number Location Guide in the upper right of the catalog screen to find where your dictionary is located in the stacks.
Finding Articles about words and language
Two useful databases:
LLBA
MLA
Terms to use: morphology; etymology, word formation
Specify the language: American English, British English
Finding Dictionaries On Line
Oxford English Dictionary The Library subscribed to this data base. It contains the complete text of the OED's 20-volume Second Edition and 3-volume Additions Series. Also includes draft material from the current OED project, representing the latest progress towards a completely revised and updated Third Edition. The OED online can be used to perform simple searches for word definitions, or for full-text searching of all OED's definitions, etymologies and quotations through the Search function. Updated quarterly. Includes a page on how to cite the OED Online. (Available only to the UA Campus.)
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
Again open only the UA students, faculty and staff. Originally published in 1961, this online edition includes updated material through 1996. Approximately 450,000 vocabulary entries. (Available only to UA Campus.)Merriam-Webster WWW Dictionary - Includes pronunciation, etymology, date, function, and definitions and will offer alternative words if your entry is misspelled. (Available only to UA Campus.)
Cambridge Dictionaries Online - Includes dictionaries of American English, Learner's and Advanced Learner's (of English), idioms and phrasal verbs.
Dictionary of Old English Old English corpus
This dictionary allows a wide variety of search techniques. It has been produced with the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the National Endowment for the Humanities, an independent federal agency.
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language Over 90,000 entries feature 10,000 new words and senses, 70,000 audio word pronunciations, 900 full-page color illustrations, language notes and word-root appendixes.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 Edition- ARTFL project. Search using single word, most entries contain cross references. WILL NOT offer alternative words if your entry is misspelled.
yourDictionary.com Free site loaded with all kinds of dictionaries, theasuri, and other language tools.