What should a dictionary do? What shouldn't it do?
What can a dictionary do? What can't it do?
How do you decide what is a good dictionary?
According to Jessica Stevens,
Many people keep an English dictionary as a reference point for finding out what a word means or how a word is spelt. Some dictionaries are designed to be suitable for these basic purposes and the individual word entries are kept relatively minimal for ease and speed of use. (2008, 1. Introduction)But as Stevens also notes, other dictionaries give a lot more information, and aim to "to give as accurate a picture as possible of the entire lexicon [words in a language]" (2008, 1. Introduction, ¶ 3).
How do you use your dictionary? What other uses could you get out of your dictionary?
Do you think it is a good dictionary? Why? Why not?
What makes a dictionary a good one for you?
Later in her worksheet, in section 7, "Information or instruction?", Stevens raises questions about what words should, and perhaps should not, be included in a dictionary.
Should words such as nigger, which is very offensive to many people, be included? Why? Why not?
Who should decide what words should or should not be included? Should governments or official bodies have any say, as is the case with the Académie française, which says which words may and may not be included in the official dictionary of French? The Oxford English Dictionary, on the other hand, is not an official body and is not run by a Ministry of Culture or anything like it. As Stevens also tells us, the OED has sometimes even had to defend itself in the British courts to include words!
What are your ideas on the questions raised here and in Steven's worksheet?
You don't need to read all of Steven's worksheet, but it's probably a good idea to read sections 1. and 7. and perhaps skim quickly through the rest. You can't do the exercises where she tells you to look words up unless you have a subscription to the OED Online, but I don't think that will be a problem.
This is a response writing activity, so when you're ready, just start writing and continue to write for about 15 minutes without stopping.
__________
References
- Stevens, J. (2008). Worksheets for A level English Language. OED Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved September 16, 2008, from http://oed.com/learning/a-level/lessons.html
I potentially agree with Steven that we use a dictionary in order
ReplyDeleteto find the meaning of a word and find out how to spell a word. In my opinion, a dictionary helps us to figure out that what a words give us the feeling. Although the word that we use might have many synonyms, I think each synonyms would have it own feeling. Therefore, a good dictionary for me is a dictionary which gives me the meaning of a word and also gives me the feeling of that word.
Dictionaries in the blog is a kind of books but I prefer to electronic dictionary because it is comfortable and find a word in shorter time. There are many kinds of electronic dictionaries and their explaination like a dictionary book. Today, you have choices to choose what is suite to you. If you don't have enough money, you can use a book. On the other hand, electrodic dictionary is a choice that I recommend.
I think Steven's worksheet is right that people need dictionary for mostly searching for words means and also type of the word, how to use the word correctly. In additional, the dictionary that easy to use is great, like nowaday we have "talking Dict." and dictionary online which is easier to use than dictionaries that are book, just type the word you want to find and then push the button, then the means come up, you don't have to look in in book page to page and try to find where is it.It's very dizzy some times when you find lots of words.
ReplyDeleteAs in steven's worksheet,stated the people use it to find woed means, then I think every words those are uses in present or old word but you can still find it, should be contained in dictionaries, no matter is it slangs or bad words or anything that could possibly be heard. From my experience, I like listening to Hip Hop and look for lyrics, then try to find the meaning, but there are many words that I camnot find in dictianaries, so I was like "and how can I know what does this mean?". I had to ask peole or search in google, but it would be easier isn't it if I can find it in dictionary.
When I read this passage, it bring me to many questions in my head.
ReplyDeleteWhen are you use the dictionary? Why are you use it for? Are you know what the best dictionary?
Anyway, I strongly agree with Steven that we use the dictionaies to figure out new words in order to find their meaning. For me, I will find new words from my electronic dictionnary whenever I do not know what the words mean. I like to read a newspapers as I possible. I often see new words from the newspapers which I do not know about their means. Therefore, I will find their mean from the dictionary. Not only I can know their means but also know more thing about their words such as their part of speech, synonyms, example of making sentences from them and so on. Really, I think that there are many dictionaries which we can use them to find new words such as online dictionaries, eletronic dictionaries, dictionary books and so on. In my opinion, I prefer to use the eletronic dictionary rather than other because it gave me more advantages. It gave me more comfortable because it has rather light weight, so I can take it with me and use it whenever I want. For me, I do not sure what the best dictionary is, but I think that the Oxford dictionary is so good. Anyway, we should choose a kind of dictionary which it gave us feel good and comfortable. Surely, it still must gave us the correct mean, and it can explain that meaning clearly. It is up to you!!!
Jessica Stevens gives a very good purpose of using the dictionary and I agree with her. Usually, I use dictionary to find the meaning of some word I don't understand or check for its spelling. The dictionary gives not only the definition of words but also a part of speech, phonetics, synonym, antonym and some examples which is very important so that the users will understand clearler. Although the dictionary is an powerful tool to learn language, it is important to use it wisely. In my point of veiw, to stop reading or writing every time we don't know some words isn't a good habit because it will break the fluence down. Guessing the meaning and explaining your idea on your own way when you find yourself stuck in some vocabulary are a good solution. The good dictionary for me is the one that gives a correct and easy-to-understand meaning and also somes good example. I usually use electronic dictionary which is installed Cambridge Advanced English Dictionary, my favourite dictionary, for regular use. When I read or write something on computer, I use the on-line dictionary and I find it's convinient so much for me. In Stevens' worksheet about adding a new word on a dictionary, I think there should establish the standard organization to especialy deal wih this issue. Since there is a new word created every minute, we should consider its exact meaning and poplarity before include it in the dictionary.
ReplyDeletep.s.
It is so funny to know that OED has to defend itself on the British courts before it can add any new word
I read a paragraph and four comments written by classmates. All classmates agree with Jessica Steven's mention. I also agree with it. Most people use dictionary to would like to know meaning of the word and spelling.
ReplyDeleteIn my case, whenever I study English my electronic Dictionary is always with me. My electronic dictionary has Korean-English, English Korean, and English-English Dictionary. However Most I have used is English-Korean. Some people recommend English-English dictionary because English word have to explain English so, if you read the difinition of the word by it, you can reference the feeling of word. But, I can't catch this benefit of English-English dictionary and I'm even confused of a lot of word in the English-English dictionary.
I confess that it is right that if I use English-Korean dictionary, it is difficult to understand the feeling of word. To catch it, I read as many example as possible on the dictionary. Therefore, I think that English-Korean dictionary has to have a lot of example of the word.
Actually, I need some advice how to use dictionary for peolpe whose mother tongue isn't English. How my English improve as much as I can is my focus. After reading and writing my opinion about using dictionary, I would like to think about it more.
I strongly agree with Jessika Stevens in term of using dictionary for finding the meanings of any word and also checking how to spell words. Actually,when I was a child,anytime that I read a newspaper or doing any activity which related to English, I didn' like to use a dictionary because I was lazy and I liked to guess the meanings from the context or guess the spelling of any word. I think it's a wrong way; therefore, nowadays when I read or write I usually use the dictionary to make me use the word correctly.In my opinion, the good dictionary should not only have a variety of the meanings, but also include the example for the words because in many times I could found a lot of meanings of the word I don' t understand, but I couldn't use that word in a sentence as well. Moreover,there are many kinds of dictionary at present such as a electronic dictionary, online dictionary and a dictionary program in a mobile phone. I think it's very benefit to peaple.According to steven's worksheet I hold an idea that it is essential to add new words in the dictionary, but it certainly check the words, is it necessary?, before putting it in the dictionary.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Steven.I think mostly people use dictionary in the same way as Steven's worksheet that finding out what a word means or how a word is spelt.Dictionary can do many things.
ReplyDeleteIn my case,I used to learn English with electronic dictionary but now I always use English-English dictionary because I prefer to read more meaning that eletronic dictionary can not tell me.I come across that English-English dictionary could have more meaning and understand easier in the feeling of that word.If you are look up some word in your language to English I think sometime that word can not explain or translation to your language.First time I always do like that try to find a meaning in my language.I found that it is not good idea to do and more difficult to understand that word.
I use Longman Dictionary of Contempory English.I can not tell which one is good I think it depend on person to use their meaning to make you clear in that word.
I have a question (yes, another one):
ReplyDeleteDoes Stevens think that every word should be included in the OED or that some should not be added?
Would she approve or disapprove of an official government organization to decide on the inclusion of new words?
OK, that's two questions, but they are closely related. So, what do you think she thinks?
For me , Dictionary is a collectible thing. I usually buy the newest one revised by my favorite publisher which is Longman. Now, I have 9 dictionaries , 4 of Longman's,3 of Oxford's ,one of Cambridge and Macmilland.Though i have many of them, i rarely use those books because it is more comfortable to use a software-version installed in your computer (including as CD or DVD attached in the printed version). How i use it?.I usually look for some meaning of unknown vocabularies, listen to how they pronounce and search for their synonyms. From my experience with those,I think the best dictionary software is Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. Although i sometimes can't find some words in it but normally it have very comprehensive information regarding any words. It can do almost everything that OED offer at more than 200 pounds a year cost with just less than 15 pounds for lifetime usage. Its most interesting feature is there are a huge database than contain many examples of sentence using any word and all of those sentences have sound. Moreover, It includes Activator Program working like thesaurus but easier to find proper words though it consist of less related word for each vocab. It also has the search function that you can search from meaning ,pronunciation, subject and word origin. However, it still has many weaknesses that need to be improved. I think it should increase its vocabulary for some slang and abbreviation. I should improve it user interface to more easier to use. I'd need copy/paste function that we can copy that page and directly paste in word. For this version ,their are some problem when you copy/paste such as error in text format and
ReplyDeleteerror in phonetic font. I'd like to add my dictionary or my favorite function that allow users to simply make their own word list. So you can add all word once being searched in your own list or make your own TOEFL word list. Oh i forgot to share about what is the component of good dictionary. for this, I agree with the reading. However, comparing between those big publisher dictionary ,there is nothing different in the context especially in the printed version. Many words were almost defined by the same definition. So i think the more different that distinguish it the best from the mediocre one is its content.
For your additional questions, First i think it depends on the purpose of the dictionary if it create for non-English speaking person it should include all words ,especially the most used words though it may sound rude or offensive because if it 's not in dictionary how people like us who speak English as a second language can know it has an offensive meaning and should be used with cautious. So, I don't agree that any dictionary should be approved before publish because i think English language is not the language of any country . Now, it's the language of the world. So,it doesn't belong to anyone. Who should has an authority to do this job. In the competitive and freely market, customer will make the ultimatum approve.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with Stevens and our classmate’s comment. Most people use dictionary to search for the word meaning or accurate spelling. Some word in dictionary, they provide us many meaning and a lot of information. As time pass by, technology has been improve that make us more convenient to find the meaning of the word. For example, we can find online dictionary in many website. Furthermore, Electronic dictionary is on choice that many people choose to use it. The improvements of technology make dictionary are a lot easier and more comfortably to carry it. In addition, dictionary is important thing when we learning other language. It will teach you new words, how to pronounce them, and how to use them. I would prefer dictionary which it has a clear explanation, a good example and a several synonym to make me understand how to use the word.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Stevens' worksheet about adding a new word on a dictionary, Thailand has Royal Institute to undertake and publish Thai dictionary. In Royal Institute dictionary, we will see traditional word including a modern word. It’s good to collect the traditional words which we may not use in this period and it also good to put a new word in dictionary such as slang, idiom or any new word in dictionary to make us know about history of words.
To answer Peter's first question about Stevens' opinion of adding or not adding words to OED, She would not be happy if every words are included in ODE. It is imposible to put all of vocabularies in English into a book (or a series of book) because new words are created everyday and it will take many years to complete the "perfect-edition" of OED. In addition, some words are popular for a while and then they will disappear just like a fashion. Thus, there is no need to add these short-life-time words into a dictionary. The factor of including a new word which Stevens should concern is that, that word has been used for quite long time and most people understand agree with the meaning of it. Then the new word were born. According to the second question dealing with an official government organization that makes a decision whether new words should be included, Stevens would disapprove to the establishment of this organization. The official organization for this purpose is a very good idea but it should not be under control of the government. The profit-free organization will play the best role in conclusion of new words
ReplyDeleteFor the first question in Peter's new comment, Jessica doesn't think that the OED should have every word. She told us in her worksheet that there are some words having no meaning but people can understand that words by socail judgement such as "ain't". In addition, the words which some people use is not parts of polite conversation. The OED has a duty to record uses of words which people might fing offensive on ethnic or religious grounds.
ReplyDeleteFor second question, Jessica doesn't say anything about approve or disapprove. She just have said that an official government organization is once held on an issue and found that the entry of words should remain.
According to reading Jessica Stevens opinion, I agree with her. I think many people try to use dictionary to find meaning of the word, how to spell, and part of speech depend on situation. But no one can be the best dictionary. In case of me I use dictionary for translation some word which I don’t know and guess it important in the sentence. But I don’t like to use when I read novel or comics books because I can guess the meaning form context, and is fun to read without dictionary. In my opinion I think dictionary should translate group of word not only translate just word by word. For me dictionary can help people who don’t know the meaning of vocabulary but it can’t help people translate from other language to another language if the people don’t have guessing skill. However, in my life I usually use dictionary when I don’t know the meaning and can’t guess meaning from context. If I don’t have dictionary when I want to know meaning of vocabulary, I try to guess by myself or skip it in case of I can’t ask other people. I think this way can help me a lot after I try to guess by myself I know how to divide important vocabulary I have to know or some word I can skip.
ReplyDeleteI think, in her opinion every word should be included, because in her worksheet stated that the aim of dictionaries is to record the language as it is and be accurate as much as possible. I think,she means that people have dictionaries to look for word means, how to use words in the right way, how to spell words correctly etc. if there some words that cannot be added in dictionaries , then where can people find out what those words mean. As long as it's the words of that language, it shouldn't be cut out. Moreover,dictionaries try to explain the definitions of vocabularies as it be, not aim to hurt any body. however, it's not easy to contain every words in dictionaries because words naturally change the meaning all the time, the word that means something today might mean something different in the future.
ReplyDeleteI suppose, that she would approve of the government organization to decide to include new words in dictionaries, because in the present no official body decide which words should be or should not be added. The people who make the decision who have to aware and deal with the court them self. If there is a government organization it would be better
Accordidg to Steven's worksheet,Her opinion should be have every words,Nowadays the people invented the new word everyday and for many reasons the people want to know definition of that word.People find a word meaning everyday if in the dictionary does not have every words why they have to find out in dictionary if they can guess and read the content that they want to know.Everybody should be in the part to decided because English language is not belong to any one.It would be a language of the world.Everybody can know and make a decision to say should or should not?
ReplyDeleteTo answer your new questions, in first question, I think Jessica Stevens doesn't seem happy with the opinion that should put every word into the OED.This is because there are a plenty of vocabularies around the world and it sound immpossible to make the dictionary including every word. Some vocabulary also dissappear one day in the future. Refer to some words, She think that people can understand in general even if there are no meaning to describe them, so it does not suppose to have all words in the dictionary. Stevens hold an opinion that words which are put in the OED should defend for people all over the world. Answering another question, Stevens disapprove of an official government organization to judge which words can be in the OED. Although, the organization like this are potential to decide about new words which ought to be in the dictionary, actually it should not under controlling by a government organization. In other words, deciding which words can put in the OED or cannot should be independent.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your ideas about dictionaries and what Stevens thinks about dictionaries. The issues you have raised, especially about what makes for a useful dictionary, are very good.
ReplyDeleteOn the first question I asked in my previous comment, I agree with Sai and Pat that Stevens does think that the OED should aim to include every word used in English, even those words that are only used for a short time and even those that are offensive. However, she also thinks that there is a need for a variety of much smaller dictionaries that are practical for most people's normal uses of a dictionary. For example, although I regularly use the full OED, I also have the much smaller Concise OED installed on my computer, and sometimes that is faster and more useful for what I want, especially if I'm just checking the spelling of a word or a common definition. Actually, I also have the book version of the Concise OED, but almost never use that these days. A lot of my reading and writing is done online or on a computer, or with the computer nearby, so it's a lot more convenient to use the electronic or online versions of the dictionaries. And I've even put a link to the very small Compact OED on this Blog, because that is generally perfectly adequate for a quick online look up of a word.
On the second question I asked, I agree with Sweet's and Tuk's comments. Stevens is unlikely to approve of any government or official body having control of what words are or are not included in the dictionary. In fact, most lexicographers and linquists think that the Académie française and similar government bodies entrusted with compiling official national dictionaries are jokes.