Re: [edict-jmdict] Inclusion of gikun readings in JMdict/Edict

[Nils Roland Barth <jmdict.nbarth@********>]

Thanks a lot for elaborating Matt!

The examples you give – nonce usages that are culturally
important (e.g., used only once in the Japanese literature,
but in a notable use, such as a famous Bible or famous author)
– are useful and deserve a place somewhere, but I don’t think
in the main body of a general-use dictionary for English speakers
(and Japanese non-natives generally), as they are very
rarely useful and are distracting to ordinary entries.

We have places for these data – the names dictionary, and
Old Japanese/Middle Japanese words (notable in old
conjugation classes) – though I don’t think we have a place
for non-standard literary usages, be they nonce words or
nonce spellings/readings.

Regardless of where these end up, I’d encourage you to
collect and categorize these, be it simply a list of
gikun by literary work (or just 明治元訳), or something
fancier (e.g., with context sentence, page reference,
commentary, etc.).

I don’t know if there’s interest (or energy!) in having
some dictionary of these literary terms in the EDICT project
(I’d imagine it’s low priority), though it’s conceivably
possible.
(Are there any Japanese-Japanese dictionaries where this
might be welcome?)

You’re certainly welcome to make an Appendix page on English
Wiktionary, if you’d like a home for these.
(I’m a senior editor on Wiktionary, and it has different and
to some degree complementary goals to EDICT – it’s a great
place for longer form text or tables.)

OTOH, I’d recommend against trying to put them in the main
dictionary – to concur with René, there should be a high bar
for idiosyncratic readings or made-up words, and they will
be rejected.

To end at the beginning – 元始（はじめ）is a really poetic writing;
thanks for sharing, and for making me aware of 明治元訳.

  ~nils