Schwa: a dictionary pronunciation database system

Although pronunciations have been an integral feature of dictionaries for over two hundred years, they have never been the most important aspect of lexicography. Consequently, when dictionary editors adopted computer technology, pronunciations benefited from these new tools less than did other aspects of dictionary production. Recently, however, new technologies such as Unicode and XML have made it possible to work with pronunciations more easily and effectively. Schwa, a database system for managing and editing lexicographical pronunciations, incorporates these and other technologies to facilitate working with pronunciations. This dissertation describes Schwa, the design decisions that went into creating it, and some of the history and theory of lexicography that lie behind it.