The experience of adapting a dictionary: an account of the lexicographic coordination of dicionário seleções de português: século xxi (the brazilian version of family word finder)

Abstract

The paper shares the experience of compiling the Dicionário Seleções de português – século XXI: um guia da língua portuguesa com significados, sinônimos e antônimos (2011), which is the Brazilian version of Family Word Finder (2006). The project, coordinated by the author, adopted the features of the original work: a dictionary of synonyms and antonyms “for the whole family,” with supplementary information on etymology, word trivia, quotations, and grammar problems. The article reports on the planning of the Brazilian version, which included putting together a team, selecting the word list, assigning tasks to the lexicographers,  and drawing up a style manual. While the encyclopedic, up-to-date approach of the original thesaurus was respected, some adaptations were necessary, and these are highlighted.