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How to compare Dictionaries? What is it that sets a dictionary apart from its competition? A lot of features can be compared and the process will be never ending. This is a challenge that can be overcome after a lot of hard work and reading that involves looking up known words, gathering and digesting the information available in the introduction notes and reference supplements. This can be a very time consuming process and needs to be done full time. After this process is over, a few serious questions have to be directed at you as to the required content and intended usage of the dictionary proposed to be used. We have presented the following section for the English Dictionaries comparison and for other languages you might want to augment some of the pointers in here.
Do you want your dictionary to be prescriptive or descriptive? (do you want it to tell you how to use the language? Or should it tell you in a neutral manner, the language to be used?). What kind of advice on usage do you prefer? What is the ordering of various meanings of a single word do you want to see? (Some dictionaries have them in most used order (questionable) and the others have in historical or chronological order). Are you in need of a dictionary or do you want it to sere as an encyclopedia also? (Some dictionaries contain maps, illustrations and lot of other information which could be useful).
There could be 10 categories in which the dictionaries can be rated:
1. Comprehensive word List: Each of the dictionaries should serve their purpose by having the words required by any user.
2. Definitions: Clarity, Precision and accuracy of expressing the explanations and the meanings.
3. Usage: This is another important factor as to whether the dictionary in review gives good usage guidance of the word looked up or not.
4. Etymologies: The concise and comprehensive manner in which the dictionary presents the words and their meaning.
5. Ease of use: The dictionary should be well organized and easy to use with supplementary information and illustrations.
6. British and American English: The dictionary should have both British and American words with both British and American pronunciation since both are used extensively in today's world.
7. Phrasal verbs and idioms: Special dictionaries for these exist, but it is necessary that every English dictionary contain the most common phrasal verbs and idioms for ready use.
This was about comparing dictionaries in hard bound book form, however with the advent of technology, the electronic dictionaries that run on a PC have taken birth and are much easier and less time consuming to use. While comparing electronic dictionaries, there are a few more factors to be kept in mind in addition to the above
8. The quality of the database used, the database should be comprehensive and detailed, since it is being used on a computer, size really does not matter much.
9. The quality of the program that the dictionary uses should be user friendly and should provide for ease of use since it is really not necessary that all users are computer savvy.
10. Age of the compilation: Last but not the least the age of the dictionary is important. When was it published? When did the word list get updated last? These could determine if you will find those new words like 'blog' in your Dictionary. For all practical purposes the latest editions are better than old. May be the purists and some academic folks may differ on this.
How to choose the right Dictionary for you? go to our next article which tells you more about other factors you need to consider while choosing your dictionary. Choosing a HardBound Dictionary versus a paperback Dictionary - this article helps you decide.
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