Tibetan and Himalayan Library - THL

Description: Format: Its original format was more of a glossary than a dictionary, though multiple translations for a given term are enumerated separately according to meaning, and there are intermittent definitional style notes. The source of entries is partially indicated through parenthetical attribution.

Focus: the focus is on Buddhist terminology and facilitating the work of translators of Tibetan Buddhist literature

Value: its value is in its huge range of words included – it will often have words or obscure meanings documented not found elsewhere. It is particularly good for rNying ma and bKa’ brgyud sectarian terminology, which is often poorly represented in other dictionaries.

Problems: due to its history as a compilation from existing dictionaries, word-lists and glossaries, as well as its heterogeneous history of input and editing, the dictionary is of uneven quality and at times sprawling in its plethora of translation equivalents not clearly ranked according to importance. In addition, the focus on listing translation equivalents at the expense of systematic definitions and other lexical categories often limits its utility. (David Germano 2007-12-13, revised by Bill McGrath 2008-02-06)