Dictionary
It is a kind of a book or reference that containing words of a language, arranged alphabetically and showing class and uses. We often use a dictionary to look up a word. We do this when we do not know what the word means. Dictionaries are organized to help us look up word easily
Importance of Dictionary book
- Gives meaning of words
- Shows words of the same meaning
- Shows words which mean the opposite
- Show the classes of the word (verb, nouns, objectives)
- Show how words are used
- Show how words are made
- Show how words are pronounced.
Synonyms: words, which mean the same, a called synonyms
Examples: -Angry - mad Cried - shouted Huge - big Hate - dislike Clever - bright
Antonyms: A dictionary also shows words which mean the opposite words which means the opposite is called antonyms
Examples:
o Hate - like
o Ugly - beautiful
o Slow - fast
o Friendly - enemy
o Strong - weak
Word formation
A dictionary also shows how words are made. This is called word formation
- A noun can be made from a verb or from an Adjective
Example vacate (v) –vocation (N)
Some Nouns end with
(i) …………….. ion (examination)
(ii) …………………ty (beauty)
(iii) ………………….ness (politeness)
(iv) ……………………ce (importance)
Some of the objectives end with
(i) ………... ous (poisonous)
(ii) …………. Al (trial)
(iii) …………..ic (electric)
(iv) ………….. an (African)
(v) ………….. ful (helpful)
Pronunciation: A dictionary shows how words are pronounced English words are pronounced differently from Kiswahili. The way the English words are written is different from the way they pronounced.
Example: see –pronounced as /si/ and not see
Exercise
Write the following words as they are pronounced in the dictionary
Example: King –/KiÅ‹/
(i) Sing =
(ii) Cheek =
(iii) Cart =
(iv) Chest =
(v) Dish =
Exercise
Show differences in the pronunciation of the underlined words.
- Please sit on the seat 2. I left my hat in the hut 3. Pull the boy from the pool 4. Do not hurt my heart
