standaardwoordenboek

A standaardwoordenboek is a reference work that codifies the standard form of a language for everyday use, with a focus on the normative spelling, word forms, meanings, and usage of words. In Dutch linguistics, such dictionaries aim to provide authoritative guidance for correct written Dutch and to serve as a benchmark for education, media, publishing, and language policy.

Typical entries in a standaardwoordenboek include the headword or lemma, pronunciation, part of speech, inflected forms, a concise definition, etymology, and usage notes. Many entries are accompanied by example sentences, synonyms, and sometimes notes on regional or stylistic variation. The dictionaries are designed to reflect standard Dutch as used in formal contexts, while may also indicate regional differences or current usage trends.

Several well-known dictionaries are regarded as standard references in Dutch. Publishers such as Van Dale and Prisma have produced large, widely used standard dictionaries of the Dutch language. In addition, the official spelling reference responsible for standard orthography, commonly known as the Groene Boekje, functions as a normative resource for spelling, though it is not a general dictionary in the same sense as a full lexico-graphic work.

The concept of a standaardwoordenboek is distinct from dictionaries focused on slang, jargon, or specialist fields. It aims to cover the language standard across broad usage, though it may not capture every neologism immediately and may reflect the norms of a specific language community, primarily the Dutch-speaking world in the Netherlands and Flanders.