The dictionary was compiled based on the specifications that were developed within the framework of the sub-project entitled “compilation of a dictionary for adolescents” of the Project for the “Education of Muslim Children” (2002-2004). The development of these specifications for the compilation and writing of the dictionary (to be published in hard copy and electronically) was carried out by Élena Mántzari, in cooperation with the person in charge of the sub-project, Anna Iordanidou. The same specifications were used for the development of an “Electronic Lexicographic Database” by Neurosoft, an information technology company. The writing of the entries and the compilation of the database were done with the participation of linguists and educators specialized in lexicography.

The dictionary consists of about 10.000 entries. The list of entries was developed through the combined processing of (a) the list of entries derived from the already existing dictionaries of Modern Greek for primary and secondary school pupils (this list was used as the definition of the “basic vocabulary”) and (b) a body of texts in electronic format, which includes textbooks. The development of the dictionary through the aforementioned lexicographic database made the execution of controls for the accuracy of the entry contents and for the entry-to-entry consistency a lot easier.

This pedagogical explanatory dictionary of Greek as a foreign language is based on the theory and the practice of pedagogical lexicography and has been designed to provide solutions to problems that arise from the needs of the pupils, its primary users, as well as from the particular features of the Greek language. The solutions that were given in this dictionary are:

• A functional presentation of the entry title, which includes a clear mention of the article for the nouns and adjectives and an inclusion of the passive form for the verbs.

• Providing simple and functional definitions for each of the meanings of an entry: I.e., using a simple vocabulary for the definition, thus making it easier for people who are not native Greek speakers to understand its meaning, and avoiding the use of words that are more difficult than the one being defined. To put it differently, using a functional formulation of definitions, a formulation that gives non-native speakers the description of the meaning not as conceptual representation, but in its usual environment -- in the environment where the that specific meaning of the word is used.
• Presentation of a sufficient number of examples that explain each meaning, showing the characteristic environments where each of them is used, with a vocabulary that can be easily understood by the pupils.
• The inclusion of exact synonyms and antonyms for each meaning of a word, and also in each example, when there are different uses of the word. The goal of the choice to include them is to help the pupil effortlessly and easily replace the word that is being defined with another one in the same environment of use.
• Inclusion in the dictionary, in a clearly stated fashion, of expressions and idioms of the Modern Greek that go beyond the boundaries of a word and have a specific meaning and formulation.
• Inclusion in every entry of derived and compound words that belong to the same family with the one being defined.

Dictionary cover
Dictionary of Greek as a Foreign Language
Exercises intended to teach pupils how to use the Dictionary effectively