Touch Dictionary purchase

Toastedpine · 06-19-2011, 07:22 PM

I was just wondering if buying a dictionary will add it to the dictionary lookup functionality of the Kobo Touch. The one it comes with is okay, but I really like having etymology handy.

PeterT · 06-19-2011, 07:46 PM

Have never seen any mention of being able to replace or add new dictionaries on any Kobo model. I think if you could, Kobo would be trumpeting this feature.

m_bisson · 06-20-2011, 10:27 AM

I don't understand this whole dictionary thing and why people are so into it.... After reading for years and years aren't you able to decipher what words mean without having to look them up?

baronrus · 06-20-2011, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m_bisson

I don't understand this whole dictionary thing and why people are so into it.... After reading for years and years aren't you able to decipher what words mean without having to look them up?

I guess it depends a bit on what you read. I am mostly into novels and I never in 40 years of reading paper books felt the need to go look a word up. If I read technical content perhaps I would utilize this feature more but for a novel it is not a feature that is critical for me.

Nigol · 06-20-2011, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baronrus

I guess it depends a bit on what you read. I am mostly into novels and I never in 40 years of reading paper books felt the need to go look a word up. If I read technical content perhaps I would utilize this feature more but for a novel it is not a feature that is critical for me.

Same here, even worst for me is that I read mostly English book, which is not even my native language.

Toastedpine · 06-20-2011, 11:59 AM

It's also a fallacy that you can figure the rarer words out from context. For example, many people who claim to be able to guess the difference in usage of comprise vs compose get it wrong, which is why it often gets an entry in grammar reference books.

This also means working under an assumption that the author either knows full well what the word means or didn't decide to use a word differently from normal out of a sense of poetic license or prosody (which may or may not mean the same thing depending on what the author decides to play with). Even with editors and professional writers, there could also be mistakes. Everyone is human.

A word could also have multiple meanings and maybe you know or can guess one definition of the word but not the other, making it so you miss the pun (for me, finding these things helps reinforce that authors really care about their writing, and I'm getting my money's worth). I also get a kick out of sometimes knowing how to use a word in its most precise sense. It's like having a really sharp knife versus one that's honed by guess work.

I'm not saying I look up every unfamiliar word I see. I'm probably as lazy as the next person. It is, however, something I enjoy doing.

06-19-2011, 07:22 PM	#1
Toastedpine Connoisseur Posts: 90 Karma: 120 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kobo Touch	Dictionary purchase I was just wondering if buying a dictionary will add it to the dictionary lookup functionality of the Kobo Touch. The one it comes with is okay, but I really like having etymology handy.

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06-19-2011, 07:46 PM	#2
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,154 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	Have never seen any mention of being able to replace or add new dictionaries on any Kobo model. I think if you could, Kobo would be trumpeting this feature.

06-20-2011, 10:27 AM	#3
m_bisson Groupie Posts: 170 Karma: 25803 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: kobo touch :)	I don't understand this whole dictionary thing and why people are so into it.... After reading for years and years aren't you able to decipher what words mean without having to look them up?

06-20-2011, 11:59 AM	#6
Toastedpine Connoisseur Posts: 90 Karma: 120 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kobo Touch	It's also a fallacy that you can figure the rarer words out from context. For example, many people who claim to be able to guess the difference in usage of comprise vs compose get it wrong, which is why it often gets an entry in grammar reference books. This also means working under an assumption that the author either knows full well what the word means or didn't decide to use a word differently from normal out of a sense of poetic license or prosody (which may or may not mean the same thing depending on what the author decides to play with). Even with editors and professional writers, there could also be mistakes. Everyone is human. A word could also have multiple meanings and maybe you know or can guess one definition of the word but not the other, making it so you miss the pun (for me, finding these things helps reinforce that authors really care about their writing, and I'm getting my money's worth). I also get a kick out of sometimes knowing how to use a word in its most precise sense. It's like having a really sharp knife versus one that's honed by guess work. I'm not saying I look up every unfamiliar word I see. I'm probably as lazy as the next person. It is, however, something I enjoy doing.

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