Speakers
Description
This article discusses the ongoing revision of the usage-labelling system in Den Danske Ordbog (DDO, ‘The Danish Dictionary’) in response to increasing public attention on discriminatory and otherwise socially marked language. In recent years, the dictionary has received growing criticism concerning the treatment of identity-related terms, revealing limitations in the existing inventory of stylistic and evaluative labels. The article examines the lexicographic challenges involved in balancing descriptive dictionary practice with users’ expectations for guidance and contextualisation. To address these issues, DDO is developing a revised system based on a closed inventory of evaluative labels, optional modifiers, and controlled combinations. The new model is supplemented by graphical warning symbols and expandable usage notes inspired by practices in dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster and Duden. The proposed revision seeks to establish a compromise between systematic description, user guidance, and the scientific legitimacy of descriptive lexicography.