A different problem with the Kobo dictionary

[dhampny]

I have stopped reading on my Forma because of an issue I have with the Kobo English dictionary. Not their definitions but rather their pronunciations. For me, understanding the pronunciation of a word is almost as important as the definition of a word. When I began reading with the Forma and using their dictionary, I couldn’t understand how to use their pronunciations and, eventually, decided to contact Kobo support who told me that Kobo use the International Phonetic Association code in their pronunciation guide.

I felt that meant I would have to learn a new “language” in order to effectively use the Kobo dictionary. I did try the two alternative English dictionaries linked to on MobileRead. One (I don’t recall which) didn’t contain word pronunciations; the other did, but contained too few definitions.

I know I could read on the Forma while keeping a dictionary handy in one form or another, but that is cumbersome and defeats some of the convenience and benefit of using an eReader. So, I’ve returned to reading on my Kindle Oasis.

But I am curious...I have never read a posting that discusses this same subject and I wonder if it’s just bothersome for me? What do others think of this issue, or how have you chosen to handle it if you do find it to be a problem?

[Sirtel]

I read in English (which is not my first language) mostly for entertainment. So I don't really care about pronunciation. Yep, that means I actually don't know how to pronounce the majority of English words, but as I have really no one to speak English with in real life, it doesn't matter.

[Uschiekid]

Originally Posted by dhampny

I have stopped reading on my Forma because of an issue I have with the Kobo English dictionary. Not their definitions but rather their pronunciations. For me, understanding the pronunciation of a word is almost as important as the definition of a word. When I began reading with the Forma and using their dictionary, I couldn’t understand how to use their pronunciations and, eventually, decided to contact Kobo support who told me that Kobo use the International Phonetic Association code in their pronunciation guide.

I'm curious how you expected the pronunciation to show up. Most dictionaries, paper or otherwise use the IPA....it is internationally used, as one would expect from its name...
and it is pretty much the standard way to show pronunciation in any language

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by dhampny

I have stopped reading on my Forma because of an issue I have with the Kobo English dictionary. Not their definitions but rather their pronunciations. For me, understanding the pronunciation of a word is almost as important as the definition of a word. When I began reading with the Forma and using their dictionary, I couldn’t understand how to use their pronunciations and, eventually, decided to contact Kobo support who told me that Kobo use the International Phonetic Association code in their pronunciation guide.

I checked out the collection of dictionaries at the local library plus a dozen or so online variants. Of the 27 I looked at, 7 did not use the IPA for pronunciation. Two of those were Chinese language dictionaries that used pinyin and one was an antique dictionary that pre-dated the common use of IPA. One advantage to the use of IPA is that it is consistent as in my sample, the 4 American English dictionaries used 3 different phonemic systems for pronunciation.

Please note that this is in Canada not the USA.

[dhampny]

Originally Posted by Uschiekid

I'm curious how you expected the pronunciation to show up. Most dictionaries, paper or otherwise use the IPA....it is internationally used, as one would expect from its name...
and it is pretty much the standard way to show pronunciation in any language

The dictionaries I'm most familiar with are The Random House Dictionary (from my earlier years) and, more recently, the Merriam Webster Dictionary or the New Oxford American Dictionary the Kindle uses. When I was reading with my Kobo I also used one of the alternative English dictionaries posted about on MobileRead, either the Chambers1908 or the Websters1913 I forget which one at the moment, which contained a pronunciation guide. The pronunciation guide in all of these dictionaries is the same or very similar and one which I'm familiar with. I think what I'm running up against is Kobo having an international market and addressing the need to show pronunciation to English-language readers from multiple countries using the IPA versus the American English pronunciation that I'm accustomed to.

[Calenorn]

IPA is difficult for those unfamiliar with it. These may be helpful:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPA_vo...art_with_audio

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPA_pu...art_with_audio

[dhampny]

Thanks very much. I will take some time and study these. I do like Kobo's software and would like to return to reading on my Forma.

[TheRealJohnAdams]

Well, one option is to install a custom dictionary. I recall several threads on the subject on this forum. But I think the thing to do is really just learn a bit of the IPA alphabet. I was in exactly your position (although this was back in the days of the original nook), and I'm glad I learned IPA.

Keep in mind that you don't have to memorize all of it. It's usually pretty easy to figure out how consonants are supposed to sound, and the IPA characters for consonants are easy anyway. The only unusual ones are ʃ (sh), θ (th as in thirst), ð (th as in this), and ʒ (zh as in beige).
Vowels are harder, but hen I check a pronunciation, 90% of the time I'm just wondering if a vowel is long or short, and being able to distinguish the common forms of a ( æ | eɪ | ɑ | ə ), e ( ɛ | i ), and o ( ɒ | oʊ | u | ʊ ) is enough for me.

[dhampny]

Thanks for your help. I appreciate your suggestions.