Lexicon?

http://www.teff.nl/fonts/lexicon/lexicon.html

Victor

Lexicon--looks like a nice face; to be honest I was unaware of its existence until you pointed it out, so thanks Victor. But the post wasn't a riddle, I can see the cryptic tone after looking at it now. What I really want is some opinion on what might work best (or better than that used currently) in dictionaries, especially foreign-language dictionaries, and specifically dictionaries covering indigenous languages of the Americas.

Having worked directly in the field of lexicography for the past 3 or 4 years (and still going--much to the dismay of my eyes!), I've noticed the distinct tendency on the part of publishers to give a dictionary's typeface very little thought at all. I believe the criteria at present is the same as any other work of literature--and this just isn't right.

Just wanted to pool the "in-the-know" expertise of typophiles. And of course, theoretical arguments between Hrant Papazian and John Hudson on legibility are welcome.

Involved arguments from me (theoretical, rhetorical, gastronomical, any kind really :-) will have to wait until July 6, but what I can advise is to read anything you can find by Paul Luna, a major heavy at Oxford Dictionary, and a devout typophile. FYI, Luna is a big fan of Unger's work, but also recommends good 'ol Nimrod as a fallback.

As for multi-script work, you're right, there's a huge lack of thoughtfulness and quality, and you can't blame the typographers entirely, because they lack the "tools" (ie fonts) to do it right.

http://www.themicrofoundry.com/ss_rome1.html

hhp

So much depends on the size/leading of the type (ie, how much does the publisher want to minimize the number of pages), and the paper stock.

My old Penguin Dictionary from the '60s is set in 7/7 Plantin, and the stock is little better than newsprint, but the general effect is excellent (were it not disintegrating).

Chris Burke's new "Celeste Text" looks quite interesting for small size work.

why not chucara serif?
looks like appropiate

http://www.typophile.com/forums/messages/29/16859.html?1072247686

all gerard unger fonts may do a great work, dont forget it.

I have designed two dictionnaries with last winter using some newspapers fonts that I have designed 10 years ago. I see good similarities in booth medium: narrow columns, hierarchy, strong contrast between various elements, economy, small sizes used, etc.

http://www.typofonderie.com/alphabets/view/LeMondeJournal
http://www.typofonderie.com/alphabets/view/LeMondeSans
http://www.typofonderie.com/alphabets/view/LeMondeJournalIpa

If interested, I be will be probably able to post some images of the results on the web.

"ie, how much does the publisher want to minimize the number of pages"

At my big surprize, the publisher wanted more pages than what my fonts and design proposed: to give to the potential buyer the feeling that he got heavy, so a complete dictionnary. If it was too light and thin, the future reader "impression on the object" can be very wrong: "Hey, for the same price between two dictionnaries, this one is more heavy and features more pages, its better one for sure!"