Cirkulāri skaidrojumi „Mūsdienu latviešu valodas vārdnīcā”: dažas teorētiskas un praktiskas problēmas

In a narrow sense, a circular definition is a definition that uses the term being explained as a part of its definition. Such definitions are called overtly circular. If the definitions form a chain eventually leading back to the entry from which the look-up started, these definitions are called covertly circular. Circularity in dictionary definitions is often considered a flaw. However, both theoretical research and practical analysis shows that circularity in dictionary definitions appears in various aspects and it is not always a flaw. The main source of data of this study is the “Dictionary of Modern Latvian” (MLVV). Practical analysis shows that circularity can provide two of the main features necessary of definitions: economy and accuracy. If a definition is reformulated just to avoid circularity, it is neither economical nor accurate. Compare two examples: quarter note – ‘a note the duration of which corresponds to a quarter of a whole note’ (MLVV); quarter note – ‘a graphic sign for music recording the duration of which corresponds to a quarter of a graphical sign for recording sound of music’. Firstly, it is important to understand that words explained in dictionaries do not exist in isolation. We often understand one word in terms of its synonyms (even though in theoretical literature synonymous definitions are not recommended, because synonyms often lead to circularity). And secondly, dictionary entries are informative in more than one way.