--- title: "Lexical Database Design: The Shakespeare Dictionary Model" description: "The paper describes the logical design of the Shakespeare Dictionary (SHAD) database, built at Münster since 1983 on a… 11 references." authors: ["H. Joachim Neuhaus"] year: 1986 venue: "Coling 1986 Volume 1: The 11th International Conference on Computational Linguistics" source: "https://aclanthology.org/C86-1104/" licence: "CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 (ACL Anthology, before 2016)" licence_url: "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/" summary_licence: "Elamur Cosmic License" canonical: "https://research.elamur.ai/free/en/papers/neuhaus-1986-lexical-database-design-shakespeare-dictionary/" --- [Elamur Research](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://research.elamur.ai/free/en/papers/neuhaus-1986-lexical-database-design-shakespeare-dictionary/) [home](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [papers](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/papers/) / [1986](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/papers/1986/) / Lexical Database Design: The Shakespeare Dictionary Model # Lexical Database Design: The Shakespeare Dictionary Model **Authors:** H. Joachim Neuhaus · **Year:** 1986 · **Venue:** [Coling 1986 Volume 1: The 11th International Conference on Computational Linguistics](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/venues/coling/) ([COLING 1986](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/venues/coling/1986/)) · **Licence:** [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 (ACL Anthology, before 2016)](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) **Links:** [Publisher's page](https://aclanthology.org/C86-1104/) · [PDF](https://aclanthology.org/C86-1104.pdf) · [OpenAlex](https://openalex.org/W1970016695) **Citations:** 0 citations (OpenAlex, 2026-10-14) ## Summary The paper describes the logical design of the Shakespeare Dictionary (SHAD) database, built at Münster since 1983 on a PRIME 250-II using CODASYL network-model DBMS software. The source data combine Spevack's machine-readable Shakespeare concordance, including stage directions, quartos and variants, with Finkenstaedt's Chronological English Dictionary. This lets Shakespeare's vocabulary be set against all English words recorded up to 1623. Neuhaus argues that earlier lexical databases copied the layout of printed dictionaries, building around a typographic "headword" with tilde back-references. He calls this an imitation design that confuses presentation with lexical structure. His alternative makes the lemma the central entity, linked one-to-many to its inflected word-forms. Relations between lemmata (the "macrostructure") are stored explicitly. A sample morphology schema links lemmata, segments, allomorphs and morphemes, and a virtual record exposes morphological families as direct queries. The work matters because it treats a dictionary as a linguistic structure rather than a print artifact. It also proposes a standardized lemma record as the link between lexical databases. ## Key points - SHAD runs on CODASYL network-model software. The team chose it over hierarchical IMS because a standard model gives long-lived data a migration path, and because lexical relations are rarely naturally hierarchical. - About 20,000 lemma records carry a full morphology covering derivations, compounds and inflected forms. They also hold etymology, a taxonomic classification by content, and more than thirty fields in total. - The morphology schema has four base entities: lemmata, segments, allomorphs and morphemes, ranging from 2,500 to 40,000 records. A virtual record called MORPHEME-TO-LEMMA supports retrieval at the lemma, allomorph and morpheme levels. - The Latin-derived prefix {IN-} links through allomorphs such as im-, il- and ir- to almost 200 Shakespearean lemmata. A figure shows the {SPEAK} family, with first-occurrence datings and frequencies. - The first word-formation database was built in three steps, taking about 17 hours in total. Access is through FORTRAN and COBOL batch interfaces and the VISTA query language. ## Interesting ideas - Model the lexicon on linguistic units such as the lemma and its paradigm, not on the presentation conventions of a source resource; copying an old medium's layout bakes accidental structure into the data. - Decompose words into segments, allomorphs and morphemes so that a morphological family becomes something you can query directly. - Attach a first-attestation date to each lemma, so a vocabulary can be cut off at any year and set against the remaining words that existed by then but went unused. - Store relations between lemmata, such as synonymy, sense links and etymological groupings, as explicit links rather than leaving them implicit in entry text. - Use a standardized lemma record as the single interface for connecting external lexical databases. ## For Mova How these ideas could serve Mova, our small open language model — its files, stages and tests: - **I1** (tokens): Keep the en crate's lexicon keyed by lemma, with an explicit one-to-many link to word-forms, so defective and suppletive paradigms are stored as data rather than handled as exceptions in code. - **I2** (tokens): A morpheme layer would let the lemmatizer and tagger explain guesses for unknown derived words, such as un- plus base plus -able, by pointing to the family members that share a morpheme. - **I3** (world): Dating lemmas in the compiled knowledge layer could help flag anachronistic or archaic senses when reading old fables and tales. - **I4** (world): The WordNet/FrameNet/Wikidata ontology should keep these links as typed edges on lemma nodes, so every lexical inference can be traced back to a stored relation. - **I5** (world): A canonical lemma ID shared by VerbNet classes, WordNet synsets and Wikidata items would make cross-resource joins reliable and explainable. *Our summary of the paper, in our own words — not its text. The work belongs to its authors; read it at the links above.* ## Institutions - [University of Münster](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/universities/university-of-munster/) — University, Münster, Germany · 5 works · 854 citations 📚 Shelves (4): [🖥️ Computer Science](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/shelves/computer-science/) · 18,614 works · [🤖 Artificial Intelligence](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/shelves/computer-science/artificial-intelligence/) · 17,965 works · [🎭 Arts and Humanities](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/shelves/arts-and-humanities/) · 17,450 works · [🗣️ Language and Linguistics](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/shelves/arts-and-humanities/language-and-linguistics/) · 17,296 works ## Cite Cite as: H. Joachim Neuhaus. 1986. Lexical Database Design: The Shakespeare Dictionary Model. Coling 1986 Volume 1: The 11th International Conference on Computational Linguistics. The paper itself, not this page. BibTeX from the library's record of the work. ```bibtex @inproceedings{neuhaus1986lexical, title = {{Lexical Database Design: The Shakespeare Dictionary Model}}, author = {H. Joachim Neuhaus}, booktitle = {Coling 1986 Volume 1: The 11th International Conference on Computational Linguistics}, year = {1986}, doi = {10.3115/991365.991495}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3115/991365.991495} } ``` - [← previous Book Reviews: Computations from the English](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/papers/giorgi-1986-book-reviews-computations-english/) - [next → Speech Acts of Assertion in Cooperative Informational Dialogue](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/papers/kononenko-1986-speech-acts-assertion-cooperative-informational/) - [↑ back to papers of 1986](https://md.research.elamur.ai/free/en/papers/1986/) ## References 11 references, 0 of them with a card of ours. ↗ leads to the work, «find» searches for one we have no id for yet. 1. Barnhart, Clarence L. "Plan for a Central Archive for Lexicography in English." In Annals o/ the Hew York Academy o~ ,fct'~ncea, No. 211 (1975), pp. 302-306. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Barnhart%2C+Clarence+L%2E+%22Plan+for+a+Central+Archive+for+Lexicography+in+English%2E%22+In+Annals+o%2F+the+Hew+York+Academy+o%7E+%2Cfct%27%7Encea%2C+No%2E+211+%281975%29%2C+pp%2E+302%2D306%2E) 2. Brustkern, J. and K. H. Hess. "The Bonnlex Lexicon System:" In iextcography tn the Electrontc A]e. Ed. J Goetschalckx and L. Rolling. Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1982, pp. 38-40. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Brustkern%2C+J%2E+and+K%2E+H%2E+Hess%2E+%22The+Bonnlex+Lexicon+System%3A%22+In+iextcography+tn+the+Electrontc+A%5De%2E+Ed%2E+J+Goetschalckx+and+L%2E+Rolling%2E+Amsterdam%3A+North%2DHolland%2C+1982%2C+pp%2E+38%2D40%2E) 3. Brustkern, J. and W. Schulze. "Towards a Cumulated Word Data Base for the German Language." Prec. Sixth International Conference on Computers and the Humanities. 6-8 June 1983. Raleigh, North Carolina. "The Structure of the Word Data Base for the German Language." Prec. International Conference on Data Bases in the Humanities and Social Sciences. 10-12 June 1983. New Brunswick, New Jersey. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Brustkern%2C+J%2E+and+W%2E+Schulze%2E+%22Towards+a+Cumulated+Word+Data+Base+for+the+German+Language%2E%22+Prec%2E+Sixth+International+Conference+on+Computers+and+the+Humanities%2E+6%2D8+June+1983%2E+Raleigh%2C+North+Carolina) 4. Chapman, Robert L. "On Collecting for the Central Archive." In Annals el the t, rew York Academy o/ ~qcs~ncgs, No. 211 (1975}, pp. 307-311. todd, E. F. "A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks," ~ornmunlcahbns el the ACA~, 13.6 (1970), 377-887. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Chapman%2C+Robert+L%2E+%22On+Collecting+for+the+Central+Archive%2E%22+In+Annals+el+the+t%2C+rew+York+Academy+o%2F+%7Eqcs%7Encgs%2C+No%2E+211+%281975%7D%2C+pp%2E+307%2D311%2E+todd%2C+E%2E+F%2E+%22A+Relational+Model+of+Data+for+Large+Shared+Dat) 5. D6ge, Michael. Problems clues EODAEYi-Datenbank-systems, dargestellt am Bstaptel des DBMS-,~oflware-Pakelas der Ft?ma PRIME.. Miinster, 1984. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=D6ge%2C+Michael%2E+Problems+clues+EODAEYi%2DDatenbank%2Dsystems%2C+dargestellt+am+Bstaptel+des+DBMS%2D%2C%7Eoflware%2DPakelas+der+Ft%3Fma+PRIME%2E%2E+Miinster%2C+1984%2E) 6. Finkenstaedt, Thomas. A ~hronolocteal Enghsh Dschbnary. Z:ahn¢ @0~000 f¥ords m Order o/ their Earfiest Known Occurrence. Heidelberg, 1970 (with Ernst Leisi, Dieter Wolff). [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Finkenstaedt%2C+Thomas%2E+A+%7Ehronolocteal+Enghsh+Dschbnary%2E+Z%3Aahn%C2%A2+%400%7E000+f%C2%A5ords+m+Order+o%2F+their+Earfiest+Known+Occurrence%2E+Heidelberg%2C+1970+%28with+Ernst+Leisi%2C+Dieter+Wolff%29%2E) 7. Lehmann W. P. "On the Design of a Central Archive for Lexicography in English." In Anna# el the tIew York Academy o/,re:knees, No. 211 (1975}, pp. 312-317. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Lehmann+W%2E+P%2E+%22On+the+Design+of+a+Central+Archive+for+Lexicography+in+English%2E%22+In+Anna%23+el+the+tIew+York+Academy+o%2F%2Cre%3Aknees%2C+No%2E+211+%281975%7D%2C+pp%2E+312%2D317%2E) 8. Nagao, M. et al. "An Attempt to Computerize Dictionary Data Bases." In Ieztco.craphy tn the Electronlc Age. Ed. J Goetschalckx and L. Rolling. Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1982, pp. 51-78. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Nagao%2C+M%2E+et+al%2E+%22An+Attempt+to+Computerize+Dictionary+Data+Bases%2E%22+In+Ieztco%2Ecraphy+tn+the+Electronlc+Age%2E+Ed%2E+J+Goetschalckx+and+L%2E+Rolling%2E+Amsterdam%3A+North%2DHolland%2C+1982%2C+pp%2E+51%2D78%2E) 9. Neuhaus, H. Joachim. "Author Vocabularies compared with Chronological Dictionaries." Bullehn el the Assoc,'ahb, /or Zderary and itn#m~hc Computing, 6 (1978) 15-19. "Design Options for a Lexical Database of Old English." Problems el Old Enghah ie.r~cofraphy. Ed. Alfred Bammesberger. Eichst~tter Beitfiige 115. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Neuhaus%2C+H%2E+Joachim%2E+%22Author+Vocabularies+compared+with+Chronological+Dictionaries%2E%22+Bullehn+el+the+Assoc%2C%27ahb%2C+%2For+Zderary+and+itn%23m%7Ehc+Computing%2C+6+%281978%29+15%2D19%2E+%22Design+Options+for+a+Lexical+Databa) 10. Spevack, Marvin. A Uom¥1ele and ~qyalemahc Concordance to the Works el Shakeap#are. 9 volumes. Hildesheim, 1968-1980. "SHAD: A Shakespeare Dictionary," #omlmter~ ,n the tIumamh~s. Ed. J. L. Mitchell. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Spevack%2C+Marvin%2E+A+Uom%C2%A51ele+and+%7Eqyalemahc+Concordance+to+the+Works+el+Shakeap%23are%2E+9+volumes%2E+Hildesheim%2C+1968%2D1980%2E+%22SHAD%3A+A+Shakespeare+Dictionary%2C%22+%23omlmter%7E+%2Cn+the+tIumamh%7Es%2E+Ed%2E+J%2E+L%2E+Mitchell%2E) 11. Waterloo, Ontario, 1977, 107-114. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Waterloo%2C+Ontario%2C+1977%2C+107%2D114%2E) *Updated 2 November 2026*