Going Online with a German Collocations Dictionary Tobias Roth University of Basel, Deutsches Seminar, Nadelberg 4, Basel, Switzerland tobias.roth@unibas.ch Abstract Although a lot of dictionaries are available on the Web, there are no well-established ways to present collocations dictionaries for language learners online. In the online version of the collocations dictionary for German we are working to overcome certain shortcomings of printed collocations dictionaries. A major issue when they are used in production situations (e.g. writing processes) is how to find collocations efficiently. Another difficulty for users is to transfer the information found to their own language use. The lexicographic challenge consists of conceiving a microstructure that assists users in finding a collocation without having to read complete articles. At the same time, enough information has to be given in order for learners to be able to use a collocation appropriately. Our online dictionary uses present-day electronic search facilities for improved access, as well as a presentation of dictionary articles on two levels: a minimalistic view for the search and navigation stage and a more detailed view once a collocation is found. Keywords: online dictionary, collocations, dictionary design, learners’ dictionary, German language 1. Introduction Many dictionaries are available on the Web today. However, as yet there are no well- established ways of how to present collocations dictionaries for language learners online. Major issues are retrievability and information transfer. How can a collocation be found efficiently, i.e. without needing to read complete dictionary articles? And how is the information best presented so that users understand the entries and can effectively use collocations found in the dictionary themselves? The Kollokationenwörterbuch 1 1 Its full (working) title being Kollokationenwörterbuch – typische und gebräuchliche Wortverbindungen des Deutschen, it is accessible at http:/ / www.kollokationenwoerterbuch.ch. – the collocations dictionary we are working on – is not a pure online project. The dictionary is also intended to appear in print. Not all aspects, therefore, are optimised for the online version. Some decisions reflect a compromise between these two mediums as it would not make sense to duplicate certain structures because of slightly differing needs between online and print versions. However, as it is a completely new dictionary built from scratch, it was possible to freely choose the design of the underlying database and special attention Proceedings of eLex 2013 152