Open Access

Annette Klosa, Rufus Gouws

• Some structures in printed dictionaries also occur in online dictionaries, some do not occur, some need to be adapted whereas new structures may be introduced in online dictionaries. This paper looks at one type of structure, known in printed dictionaries as outer texts. It is argued that the notions of a frame structure and front and back matter texts do not apply to online dictionaries. The data distribution in online dictionaries does not only target the dictionary articles. There are components outside the word list section of the dictionary. These components are not always texts. They could e.g. also be video clips. Consequently the notion of outer texts in printed dictionaries is substituted by the notion of outer features in online dictionaries. This paper shows how outer features help to constitute a feature compound. The outer features in eight online dictionaries are discussed. Where the users guidelines text is a compulsory outer text in printed dictionaries it seems that an equivalent feature is often eschewed in online dictionaries. A distinction is made between dictionary-internal and dictionary-external outer features, illustrating that outer features can be situated in other sources than the specific dictionary. More research is needed to formulate models for online features that can play a comprehensive role in online dictionaries.