Why does an ereader need a dictionary?

[carld]

Originally Posted by DMB

I note that in various discussions people refer to looking up words when reading. Me, I just read. I find in practice that I sometimes need a dictionary or thesaurus when writing, in order to find the mot juste. And then I am happy with my dt reference books. So I wonder why anyone needs to look up words so frequently as to interrupt their reading to do so and look words up in a dictionary in the reader. Of course, if you are reading in a language not your mother tongue, it's a different matter. There are always going to be words you're not sure of or have never even met. But if it's your own language and you are an adult, why the dictionary?

Honestly, I find your post terribly condescending and insulting.

[hidari]

Originally Posted by carld

Honestly, I find your post terribly condescending and insulting.

I find your reaction to his post condescending and insulting. He stated an opinion. Why get bent out of shape over the comment. If you don't like it say why... don't give a contrite/cliche response like...condescending and insulting...

Every language can have an infinite number of words. After one reads some linguistics it becomes apparent. I think the post has some validity..one can understand much from context....reading fiction or most non-fiction is not a life or death situation. IF you are a heart surgeon..then your post would have more validity...

[carld]

Originally Posted by hidari

I find your reaction to his post condescending and insulting. He stated an opinion. Why get bent out of shape over the comment. If you don't like it say why... don't give a contrite/cliche response like...condescending and insulting...

Every language can have an infinite number of words. After one reads some linguistics it becomes apparent. I think the post has some validity..one can understand much from context....reading fiction or most non-fiction is not a life or death situation. IF you are a hear surgeon..then your post would have more validity...

He didn't state an opinion he asked a question couched in obviously dismissive terms. I'm the one who stated an opinion, which I stand by. And my post is only valid if I'm a heart surgeon? Seriously?

[DMB]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Because I read a lot of 19th century novels, and there are many words which have fallen out of common usage. Although one can of course simply guess the meaning from the context, the dictionary on the Kindle or the Sony makes it so easy to look the word up that it enhances the reading experience to do so.

Eg, take this sentence from Anthony Trollope's "Barchester Towers":



Now, without looking in a dictionary, do you know what a "ha-ha" is? How about a "quintain"? On the Kindle, I can find out the meaning of these words in a few seconds, which makes the book more enjoyable.

Yes. I do know them both.

[wyndslash]

i guess maybe an ereader doesn't really need a dictionary; it's just a nice add-on, but they know that not everyone knows all of the words in the English language and would eventually need to look stuff up so they add the feature in anyway. It's really convenient for me and serves to broaden my vocabulary as well.

[DMB]

I tried using the Kindle dictionary look-up recently -- and it was totally useless! I was reading a novel written in the 1930s where a large chunk was a narrative by an elderly Scottish character, using a great deal of Scots vocabulary. I'm not Scottish, and although I've come across quite a few Scots words before, there were a few I didn't know at all. The dictionary didn't seem to have any of the Scots words at all. So I seriously doubt its efficacy for unfamiliar forms of English.

If I were reading in French (not my native language, but one I do read in) I would certainly find a dictionary useful, but I have to ask whether before the advent of ereaders most people would have read dt books in their own language with a dictionary at their side.

I'm not trying to be condescending. I would recommend dictionaries to children, but surely by the time one is adult one is likely to have acquired at least a pretty hefty passive vocabulary. Active vocabulary is obviously another matter as is technical vocabulary.

[taosaur]

I find that having a dictionary at hand allows me to look up every word of six letters or more and confirm that my definition is the correct one, or even determine that my grasp of the word's meaning is greater than that of the dictionary's author, so that the presence of a dictionary in my e-reader actually enhances my sense of superiority with regard to other readers and/or all humans.

Because the e-reader is an electronic device, I also feel my use of the dictionary reflects positively upon my e-peen.

[Shimarenda]

Originally Posted by DMB

I'm not trying to be condescending. I would recommend dictionaries to children....

Not trying isn't working for you; how about trying not.

[wyndslash]

I think it would help non-native English speakers look words up more easily blah blah, but I guess they should have studied harder in high school xD

[Jack Tingle]

I had someone question my use of the word 'pestilential' the other day[1]. They didn't know what it meant. Honestly, these are well-educated people, and THAT trips them up? :O

That is why dictionaries are needed.

Regards,
Jack Tingle

[1] I was using it in an uncomplimentary way, so they got the gist.

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by DMB

I tried using the Kindle dictionary look-up recently -- and it was totally useless! I was reading a novel written in the 1930s where a large chunk was a narrative by an elderly Scottish character, using a great deal of Scots vocabulary. I'm not Scottish, and although I've come across quite a few Scots words before, there were a few I didn't know at all. The dictionary didn't seem to have any of the Scots words at all. So I seriously doubt its efficacy for unfamiliar forms of English.

I wouldn't expect a dictionary of American English to have any Scottish words....

I am reading books written by English writers on my Sony, and have changed to the Oxford dictionary because of it. It has entries for English words and slang that the default American dictionary does not.

[Penforhire]

Maybe you rarely read challenging authors?

I have a far above-average English vocabulary (so says my Mensa card) and mostly read fiction but I find myself looking up words, expanding my vocabulary, regularly. The double-tap Sony method makes it painless. The break from reading is momentary. If I'm so immersed that it would ruin the flow then I just continue reading and use context to make up my own meaning. Before the touch method I did not understand why readers had them either. It took too long to get to a definition and back.

I definitely want the choice and now I am spoiled. I would not buy a reader that does not have this feature.

[DiapDealer]

I don't think I've ever used the dictionary lookup while reading (of course I tested the functionality after purchasing my ereader). That doesn't mean that I haven't come across words whose meaning I do not know, because I have. But usually, contextual clues and sheer bull-headedness on my part have allowed me to muscle onward without pausing.

I may keep the word in my head and look it up later if I was unsure that my contextual assumption did the word justice. But otherwise... *shrugs*

[SeaBookGuy]

If one reads mostly contemporary (mainstream) fiction), then it's not really much of a feature. However, I read a lot of non-fiction where Oxbridge/Ivy League authors do throw in highflutin' terms every so often.

And here's a recommendation for a good book: The Ha-Ha

[DiapDealer]

And here's a recommendation for a good book: The Ha-Ha

That's exactly where I first learned what the word meant!

I completely agree on the recommendation.