[词典科普] CALD3和CALD4的区别（20131021未完成）

從內容看，四版與三版最大差別在常用字標示系統的變更，三版時，以 E (Essential), I (Improver), A (Advanced) 三個等級表示語料庫出現的頻率，分別是每一千萬字出現的次數為 400、200 到 400，以及 100 到 200 次。而且常用度標示的基礎是收錄詞條底下的定義，不是粗糙地標注在收錄詞條上。某個字是否常用，通常不是該字的所有定義整體一致的表現，尤其一字多義的字，可能僅只少數幾個定義常用，其他就很普通。CALD3 深入定義標示，做法精確，提供另一種不同角度的觀察方向。

到了 CALD4，常用度標示看不到 E, I, A 的方式，取而代之的是 A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2。原來整套系統改採 Common European Framework of Reference 的定義模式，其大致架構如下：

A Basic User
A1 Breakthrough or beginner
A2 Waystage or elementary
B Independent User
B1 Threshold or intermediate
B2 Vantage or upper intermediate
C Proficient User
C1 Effective Operational Proficiency or advanced
C2 Mastery or proficiency

每個等級的詳細定義可以參考 Wikipedia 的說明。這樣一套標準，比較是人為定義出來的，其主觀的成分自然比客觀的統計來得高些。或許，連「常用度」這名稱都不太適合這樣的設計方式。雖然，最常出現的字與最該認得的字大部分都會重疊，但畢竟兩者背後的理論架構是不一樣的。

接下來就把焦點聚焦到定義上。其實，光是這重點，我花了極長時間，比較 CALD3 與 CALD4 定義文字的差別，甚至將 OALD8 的定義納入一起比較。

新字或還在演進中的字，定義隨之更新是很自然的，如 smartphone 在 CALD3 的定義寫著 a mobile phone that can be used as a small computer，到了 CALD4 變成 a mobile phone that can be used as a small computer and that connects to the internet。要比較定義的品質，看舊字比較真實。

noughties: noun[plural]
● the period of years between 00 and 10 in any century ─ CALD3
● the period of years between 00 and 10 in any century, usually 2000-2010 ─ CALD4

Price 的定義，前後兩版共有的是 the amount of money for which something is sold。CALD4 多了一個 the unpleasant results that you must accept or experience for getting or doing something。

ban: v. [T usually passive]
● to forbid (= refuse to allow), especially officially ─ CALD3
● to forbid (= refuse to allow) something, especially officially ─ CALD4
三版的定義確有改進空間。

destiny: n.
● the force that some people think controls what happens in the future, and which cannot be influenced by people ─ CALD3
● the force that some people think controls what happens in the future, and is outside human control ─ CLAD4
四版的定義更精簡易懂。

thrash: vt. [informal]
● to defeat someone thoroughly in a game or sports competition ─ CALD3
● to defeat someone very easily in a game or sports competition ─ CALD4
前後版語意不盡相同，稍有調整。

implement: vt.
● to put a plan or system into operation ─ CALD3
● to start using a plan or system ─ CALD4

implement: n.
● a tool which works by being moved by hand or by being pulled across a surface ─ CALD3
● a tool that works by being moved by hand or by being pulled across a surface ─ CALD4
第四版在很多原來用 which 的地方改用 that，底下 incentive 又是一例。

incentive: n.
● something which encourages a person to do something ─ CALD3
● something that encourages a person to do something ─ CALD4

allegation: n.
● a statement which has not been proved to be true which says that someone has done something wrong or illegal ─ CALD3
● a statement saying that someone has done something wrong or illegal that has not been proved to be true ─ CALD4
四版的定義改動不小，似乎也比較精準。

其他一些零星發現。將兩個單字分別截頭去尾組合成新單字，如 breakfast + lunch → brunch； net + citizen → netizen； satellite + navigation → satnav，這樣的組合字在英文裡有個特定名稱 “portmanteau word”，CALD3 雖有 portmanteau，卻沒有 portmanteau word 這詞條，第四版就收錄進來了，LDOCE5、MED2、OALD8 則早已收錄。friend 底下多了動詞，語意是 to invite someone to be your friend on a social networking，還有片語 with friends like you, who needs enemies? 另外，rumor mill, quantitative easing, … 這些媒體常用字也都在這版出現了。

CALD4 封面特別強調 “Focus on Writing Section”，到底裡面添加什麼獨家秘笈，號稱能幫助學習者提升寫作能力？原來是印刷版中間位置附了三十頁 (C1-C30) 的 Focus on Writing 寫作要領，內容如何不必多說，我附一張這三十頁資料的目錄讓大家看，聰明的讀者不妨想想，短短三十頁要涵蓋這麼多內容，能談出有深度的見解嗎？更無法理解的是，這份三十頁的資料在光碟版裡找不到。

from, belonging to, or relating to Russia
a person from Russia

a structure with walls and a roof such as a house or factory, or the business of making these

1. A2 [C] a structure with walls and a roof, such as a house or factory:
2. A2 [U] the process or business of making structures such as houses or factories:

the father of a person's mother or father

▸ A2 the father of a person's mother or father:
» Her grandfather on her mother's side was Italian.
» [as form of address] FORMAL OR OLD-FASHIONED Let me help you, Grandfather.