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Lexicographers: Job Description, Education, Skills, Abilities, Duties, Earnings and Outlook

Submitted by: paula

Job Overview Dictionaries are important tools in research and communication. These serve as references for different words and its usage. There are several types of dictionaries specialized in a specific field of study or discipline. These are dictionaries in foreign languages, dictionary of law terms, of nursing and of medical terms. Those professionals who research words usage, history and then record citations and modify by either writing or editing entries in dictionaries are called lexicographers. They are being hired or employed by major publishing companies of specialized dictionaries as mentioned above.

Education, Knowledge and Trainings Required

If you wish to build a career in becoming a lexicographer, prepare as early as high school by taking subjects in English, History, and several Foreign Languages. These subjects will provide a very good foundation in the near post secondary training in the preferred courses such as Linguistics, Foreign Languages, English, and other related courses.

Skills and Abilities

A lexicographer should love reading books and studying researches. This means that skills in reading comprehension is a must. Basic and advance skills in research are also a requirement. Analytical, critical thinking skills and written communication skills are highly necessary to be able to fulfill the duties involved in the job.

Duties

Most of the time, lexicographers are seen doing their research. They keep reading newspapers, journals, different types of books, magazines, hard and soft copied publications, looking for old and new words, researching for new and modified meaning, and variations in spelling and usage.

The researches point to the goal of identifying which words should appear in the dictionary as well as the specific meanings of each. The decision is based on how often or the frequency the word is used, and how it is used. After a long research, they input the results. These results are words and some example as to how the words are used in a text. Citations are noted as well. They also decide on which entries int he dictionary has to be added, subtracted, modified or revised.

Earnings and Job Outlook

The job outlook for this kind of profession is said to have not changed over decades as the need for verification of new words and modification of old ones remain the same. The range of salary for the lexicographers starts off from 24,320 U.S. dollars to 45,000 U.S. dollars per annum.  There are lexicographers who have established a name in the field and who have already acquired a supervisory position, who earn around and over 89,000 U.S. dollars per year.

Paula Hiz is a researcher and a human resource specialist who helps newly graduates, job applicants and post graduate professionals be aware of their job opportunities and available trainings for skills and practice upgrading.

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Word Count: 455 Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 Time: 11:54 PM


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