Florence conference

European lexicographers converged on an elegant Medici palace, home of the Accademia della Crusca, in Florence in early July 2000 to attend a conference entitled 'La Lessicografia Storica e i Grandi Dizionari delle Lingue Europee', hosted by the Opera del Vocabolario Italiano (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche). I gave a presentation on 'The Oxford English Dictionary on the Web': other contributors included Dr Fons Moerdijk, editor of the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, Professor Bernard Quemada, of the Trésor de la Langue Française, and Dr Michael Schlaefer of the Deutsches Wörterbuch.

The conference was also an opportunity for senior lexicographers to discuss a proposal by the Opera del Vocabolario Italiano that a European network of 'national language' dictionaries be set up, involving the Oxford English Dictionary, the Trésor de la Langue Française, the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, the Tesoro della Lingua Italiana delle Origini, and other great national and international dictionary projects. The proposal for a European network is still under discussion, but it is hoped that if realized it would facilitate greater communication and exchange between scholars associated with these projects, perhaps by means of conferences, a joint web site, and joint publications.