Challenges and difficulties in the development of Dicionário Olímpico (2016)

This paper discusses some theoretical and practical implications arising from the development of the Dicionário Olímpico (2016), created by the SemanTec (Semantics & Technology) research group. The Dicionário Olímpico (available at http://www.dicionarioolimpico.com.br/) is a bilingual lexicographic resource (Portuguese-English) which describes the lexicon of 40 Olympic sports. The dictionary is based on the theoretical-methodological framework of Frame Semantics, developed by Charles J. Fillmore. The paper brings some background to the Dicionário Olímpico’s methodological approach. In addition, it describes the lexicographical structure of the resource and the way frame-semantic features were incorporated and adapted in this context. Finally, it explores two kinds of challenges faced by the project: the identification and description of semantic frames, and the design of a template for frame definitions. These stages of development have included some adaptations of frame-semantic concepts with the purpose of building a user-friendly, frame-based dictionary. Such challenges have enriched the lexicographic work and impacted subsequent projects that are yet to be developed by the authors.