Dictionaries Why do we need them ?

By : ABIDAH BT SARAJUL HAQ ENGLISH LANGUAGE MASTER TEACHER Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Ipoh

Dictionaries are a valuable tool for students in their

learning process and they need to learn that they are able to use a dictionary to spell a word, find a meaning of a word or to assist in pronouncing a word correctly.

All students should possess a good dictionary

according to their level. You also need to become familiar with the dictionary for a variety of reasons. When used on a regular basis, students will find them comfortable to work with as a reference.

Why Use a Dictionary ?

Besides the reasons mentioned above , a dictionary is also useful because : it gives us the definition of a word it provides the synonyms ( same meaning) and antonyms ( opposite meaning) of a word it breaks words into syllables it shows us the parts of a speech it shows a sentence or an expression with the word used correctly it shows us the special uses of a word and the history of a word it provides other words derived from the main word or root word

There are also special sections in some dictionaries that inform us of : foreign words and phrases abbreviations addresses of colleges and government offices the population of cities , countries and their currencies

There are many different types of dictionaries available in the bookshops. Choose a dictionary which is suitable to your needs. Using a monolingual dictionary for example an English English dictionary can be difficult for you at first but there many advantages why you need to use it. At times you may want to use a dictionary which is easier for you to understand such as a Malay English or a Chinese English dictionary. This is called a bilingual dictionary.

Why use an English English dictionary ?

TO AVOID TRANSLATING
Using a monolingual dictionary not only mean you are reading in English but you are also avoiding the tendency to use own language. In this way, you can improve your English by copying the definition of a word down in your notebook and thus increase your English proficiency level outside the class as well.

TO FIND MEANINGS OF WORDS ACCURATELY

Many students will think that finding the meaning of a difficult word in English will end up giving them a difficult meaning of the word which they do not understand. This is certainly not so if you use a correct dictionary according to your proficiency level . My advice would be get an easier dictionary which you can understand such as an Elementary Learners Dictionary.

FOR GRADING PURPOSES

As mentioned earlier, English English dictionaries are available at many different levels. By using an Intermediate Learners Dictionary , for example, you will know that any word which you find in your reading material that does not appear in the dictionary is not important enough to learn at this stage of your learning process and so can be ignored for the moment. If there are many words in the article you are reading that are not in the dictionary for your level, then it is a sign that shows the reading text is too difficult for you. Bilingual dictionaries are not often graded this way.

TO IMPROVE YOUR GRAMMAR

A dictionary can help you to improve your grammar skills. A dictionary provides you with the list of words that are identified as a noun ( n) or an adjective (adj.)and this word will be repeated many times through different sentences to show you its relevance. Copying these words down can help you to acquire new words and how to use it in a sentence and thus increase your store of vocabulary.

Keep a good dictionary near you , as you study or read

How to find the meaning of a word in the dictionary ?

Decide what word you wish to look up. Did you find it in something that you read or hear it in conversation? 1. Figure out what letter your target word starts with (i.e. PRINCIPAL would start with a P; and ENORMOUS would start with an E; and words like STYLISH and SNOB would naturally begin with an S). For the purposes of this article, we will look up the word FUTURE.

2.

Open the dictionary so that it lies flat on the table before you. In the upper corners of the pages, notice the GUIDE WORDS. Find the section dealing with words beginning with the letter of your target word. If you see guide words beginning with the letter E, then move a few pages forward to the F section. 3. Read the information given about this word. Depending on your dictionary, you might find many things such as : 4. o A definition of the word. o One or more pronunciations. Look for a pronunciation key near the beginning of the dictionary to help you interpret the written pronunciation. o Synonyms and antonyms. You can use these in your writing practices o An etymology, derivation, or history of the word. Even if you do not know Latin or Greek, you may find that this information helps you to remember or understand the word. o Examples or citations of how the word is used. Use these to add context to the meaning of the word.

Phrases or idioms associated with the word.

5.

Think how this information relates to the word as you have encountered it. If there are multiple definitions, decide which one matches your source or context for the word and notice how the different definitions are related to one another. 6. Try using your new word in a sentence. If it is difficult to spell, write it a few times to help you remember it.

Tips on Getting the Best out of Your Dictionary

Dictionaries vary in approach. The best way to learn how to use your particular dictionary effectively is to read the introductory section which explains how entries are arranged in your very own reference book. If you cannot seem to locate your word, make sure you are spelling the word right. If you are having trouble spelling a word, try the spell-checker in a word processor and see what it suggests. Do not forget to check online dictionaries, too. Many of these dictionaries now include additional content, such as an audio pronunciation. In Google, typing define: futile will search only for definitions. It is also enjoyable to just browse through a dictionary . You can open any page and skim headwords until you see one that is interesting or unfamiliar.

Practice makes perfect . Enjoy working with your dictionary !