Francesco D'Alberti di Villanuova's renewal of bilingual lexicography

This study investigates the reasons for Alberti's uncommon celebrity for over a century, from the first publication of his dictionary (1771-1772) until 1881, when he was still held up as a model by other lexicographers. While compiling his bilingual dictionary, Alberti referred to the monolingual dictionaries of the Académie franaise (4th edition, 1762) and the Accademici della Crusca (4th edition, 1729-1738), but he also drew from the works of other lexicographers, especially Diderot and d'Alembert, whom he only marginally quotes for political reasons. From a practical lexicographical point of view, Alberti's innovations were the methodical construction of the microstructure following a very rigorous scheme, the elimination of Latin and etymology, and the extensive use of field labels. From a theoretical point of view, the predominant factors were the introduction of the specific terminology of mechanical arts and crafts, the addition of numerous synonymic equivalents as possible translations, and an emphasis on a choice of language unbounded from the upper classes and nearer to the language of the active population. © 2010 Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.