The concept of simultaneous feedback

Thetheoretical concept of simultaneous feedback (henceforth 'SF'), introduced in 1997 and described in De Schryver's (1999b) MA dissertation, was devised in response to the need for af ramework for the swift yet sound compilation of Bantu-language dictionaries. Since then, it has been applied to the compilation of numerous reference works across the world. In an utshell, and as initially conceived , SF can be understood as entailing a dictionary-making method in terms of which the release of several small-scale parallel dictionaries triggers offf eedback that is instantly channelled back into the compilation process of am ain dictionary.T his process is shown schematically in Tab. 30.1. In this representation, one recognises the three primary constituents of any dictionary compilation process, viz. target users, compilers and dictionaries. Thef ramework itself should be read from left to right, and from top to bottom Ϫ [1] through [10]. Thec om-pilers' central task is the compilation of a main dictionary Ϫ depicted by the central, downward arrow.T he first component in Tab. 30.1 is also the first task. That is, the formulation of at heoretically motivated model for the structure and contents of the dictionary to be compiled, must be followed by apreliminary analysis of the desires of the potential target users Ϫ [1]. It is of paramount importance that, from this initial stage onwards, information concerning these target users' desires be gathered through informal and formal consultations with the future target users. As such, feedback is simultaneously introduced right from the very start. Since any modern dictionary is to derive its data from ac orpus, the compilers have to build and query an electronic corpus for the specific language(s) 'first'. As aresult, the compilers cannot start the compilation of the main dictionary right away and are moreover confronted with the prospect of an extremely time-consuming undertaking. In order to overcome this deadlock, the main dictionary project is instantly complemented with aseries of small and inexpensive parallel dictionary projects Ϫ [2], [6], [10], etc. These parallel projects have basically the same structure, contents and target users as the main project and are to derive their data from small-scale parallel test-corpora. From the release of the first parallel dictionary onwards , informal and formal feedback is received from the parallel projects and channelled back into the time-consuming main project Ϫ [3], [7], etc. From that instant, the compilation of the main dictionary becomes at rue work …