Since 1987 when the first English explanatory dictionary fully based on corpus evidence was published, considerable changes related to the choice of lexicographic evidence have affected the field of lexicography. On this background (even though the volume of the lexicographic material is ample) the English-Latvian lexicographic tradition looks rather traditional and even somewhat stagnant. Thus, there is an urgent need for a detailed analytical inventory of English-Latvian dictionaries in order to facilitate new dictionary projects.

This book provides a comprehensive survey of the development of the English-Latvian lexicographic tradition considering the various extra-linguistic factors which have influenced it. It studies the typical features of English-Latvian dictionaries traced throughout the tradition at the levels of their mega-, macro- and microstructure, pinpoints the problematic aspects of English-Latvian lexicography and offers theoretically grounded solutions for improving the quality of future English-Latvian dictionaries.