| Abstract: |
One of the most important differences between an encyclopaedia and a dictionary, which is
very often underlined in scientific papers, is the relatively common occurrence of pictorial
illustration in encyclopaedias compared to dictionaries. Theoreticians indicate different goals
of these two types of reference works. While an encyclopaedia describes objects using scientific
knowledge, a dictionary presents words with linguistic arguments. Since the presumed
differences are so crucial in their nature, the two types of reference works should not have
much in common. On the other hand, a pictorial technique in dictionaries is relatively young
and non-omnipresent, and furthermore, undoubtedly arose in a predominantly encyclopaedic
surrounding. Therefore, in this paper, I have focused on this graphical distinction: do visual
facilities in an encyclopaedia vary from their counterparts in general dictionaries? As a result
of this analysis, it can be stated that, apart from general differences (aim of description, types
of units, function of caption), an encyclopaedia and a dictionary have surprisingly much in
common regarding the visual mode. |