A recent bibliometric study, published in the International Journal of Lexicography, offers an analysis of the lexicographic research landscape in the period 2003-2023. Among other things, it looks at the most influential research institutions as well as the most influential researchers in this period. 

The information is based on the number of citations in research articles from the authoritative Web of Science database. The analysis divides the period 2003-2023 into two sub-periods, namely 2003-2012 and 2013-2023. 

In both of these sub-periods, and therefore also for the period as a whole, Stellenbosch University is at the top of the list of most influential research institutions in terms of the number of published articles. 

When it comes to most influential researchers, measured by how frequently they are cited, Stellenbosch also performs particularly well. Prof Rufus Gouws, currently emeritus professor in the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, is third and second respectively in the two sub-periods, but a calculation for the full period 2003-2023 as a whole places him at the top of the list. Prof. Henning Bergenholtz and Sven Tarp, two extraordinary professors in the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch in the relevant periods, are third and fourth respectively on the list for the period 2003-2023.

(Source: Zhang, S., Zhang X, Xu, H. & Hu, X. 2026. A bibliometric study of lexicography between 2003 and 2023. International Journal of Lexicography 39: 1-18.)