Orthographic problem of letter case and its reflection in lexicography

Abstract

The paper analyzes the orthographic problem of capital vs. small grapheme usage from the perspective of lexicographic description. In this area the orthography is largely related to extralinguistic reality and is frequently complicated by the factor of orthographic tradition. The determination of the status of a nomination as a proper name is not always evident; furthermore, there exist numerous transitional cases. The existence of multiple factors influencing orthographic solutions and the existence of individual orthographic norms are responsible for the specific character of lexicographic description. The problem of letter case is described in a specialized orthographic dictionary, since general dictionaries usually disregard it. The special features of the usage of a capital grapheme may be related to the semantics of lexical units (mono- and polysemantic) or to their structure (one-word or not-one-word units). Relevant examples are given and analyzed in the paper. Also, common orthographic correlates of proper names are included in dictionaries. The optimal form of lexicographic description is a dictionary complex which comprises all borderline cases.