Abstract

The paper is a close examination of the treatment of affixes in the latest print versions of four English advanced learner’s dictionaries, i.e., OALD9, LDOCE6, COBUID8, and CALD4, at both macrostructure and microstructure levels. Through comparison and contrast, the author has produced some major findings. Firstly, special sections on affixes are a desirable supplement to prevalent alphabetical listing of affixes in the A-Z text. Secondly, forms for presentation of affixes include specification of the part of speech of the root with which an affix can be combined and indication of the part of speech of the derivative thus formed. Thirdly, cross-references help to establish the semantic relations between affixes like variant spellings, allomorphs, and synonymous affixes. Finally, more research needs to be done on lexicographical representation of affixes, especially on the wise use of space and on the proper establishment of relations between affixes.

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