ABSTRACT
Since the mid-1990s, innovations such as corpora, information technology, new media, the Web 2.0 and usage-based linguistic theory have broken new ground and changed the nature of German lexicography almost beyond recognition. Printing traditions have disappeared and new products of variable quality and with different objectives have emerged, dramatically changing the lexicographic landscape and the role of lexicographers. Today, German dictionaries vary considerably not only in structure and design but also with regard to their purposes and compilation methods. Whereas some retrieve linguistic information electronically, others link existing resources to lexical data systems. There are also user-generated dictionaries or lexical resources produced through the participation of volunteers. Only a small number of reference works adopt complementary approaches and combine corpus data with linguistic theory and lexicographic experience.
