SAY IT OUT LOUD

HINT

You can use any dictionary of your choice, for example, the print and online version of The Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary (e-dictionary).

Observe and explain:
- transcription of pronunciation
- grammar label
- examples
- practical aspects of dictionaries

EXAMPLES:

Transcription of pronunciation
Both print and e-dictionaries offer British and American pronunciation of the word in the transcription. But in an e-dictionary, I can also hear how the word sounds.

Grammar label
Both types of dictionary give grammar labels and I can see that 'thesaurus' is a countable noun. However, in an e-dictionary I can click the label 'C' and learn what 'countable' means.

Practical aspects of dictionaries
I can click any word in definitions or examples and find out more about it in e-dictionaries, but not in print ones.
There are more examples in my e-dictionary.
I can copy/paste definitions from e-dictionaries.

IDEAS ABOUT DICTIONARIES

Read the ideas below and decide if they are advantages or disadvantages.

- easier to read
- not updated
- multifunctional
- more difficult to read
- not dependent on technology
- more tiresome
- faster
- dependent on technology

Then decide if they apply to print or e-dictionaries. Justify your decision.

FIND OUT

SOME ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DICTIONARIES

Print dictionaries:

Electronic dictionaries: 

EXAMPLE

1. On the one hand, you can find a word much faster in an electronic dictionary, but on the other hand, you need a device/technology to use them.

2. Although print dictionaries are more tiresome or take more time to use, I still think that some people find them more practical.

3. I prefer electronic dictionaries because I can find a lot of useful information about the word I am checking. I can always check synonyms and listen to pronunciation.

WORDS TO REMEMBER

These two words are quite similar, aren't they? However, their pronunciation and meaning are different.

lose / luːz / = (v.) fail to keep or to maintain (izgubiti)
loose / luːs / = (adj.) not tight (ohlapen)