TS ISO 1951

TS ISO 1951 addresses how dictionary entries are presented and represented. It applies to monolingual and multilingual dictionaries, both general and specialized, and provides a common framework that can be used across print and electronic publishing environments. Its technical focus is the relationship between the underlying organisation of dictionary data and the way that users actually see an entry on the page or screen.

Structural organisation and outward presentation of entries

In general technical terms, lexicographic work distinguishes between the formal structure behind an entry and its presentation in a publication. The formal structure covers the logical arrangement of elements such as headword, sense divisions, part-of-speech information, usage labels, examples, synonyms and cross-references. Presentation concerns how those elements are formatted in print or electronic dictionaries. By using this distinction, ISO 1951 supports more consistent preparation, merging and comparison of dictionary data.

What the standard covers and what it deliberately does not

The stated objective of the standard is to facilitate the production, merging, comparison, extraction, exchange, dissemination and retrieval of lexicographical data. The informative annexes illustrate how the formal structure relates to the presentation styles used by publishers. At the same time, the standard is lemma-oriented and does not deal with concept-oriented works as defined in ISO 704; in other words, it is about dictionary entries rather than concept systems used in terminology management.