School dictionaries get cheaper this International Literacy Day

On International Literacy Day, Oxford University Press South Africa is making traditional dictionaries more affordable for South African learners, with four school titles now available at recommended promotional prices below R200.

The dictionaries are aimed at learners in Grades 4 to 9 and offer more than a quick translation.

A useful tool for the AI age

When a learner asks Google or an AI tool to translate a word, the answer may be instant. A dictionary can help them go a step further by showing pronunciation, meanings, examples and different ways a word can be used.

‘AI can translate a word directly, but a bilingual school dictionary shows pronunciation, meaning, correct usage and different meanings in context.’

That can make a difference when learners are writing an assignment, studying for a test or simply trying to understand a tricky word.

OUPSA says its dictionaries can also give learners a way to check information they receive from digital tools.

The third edition of the Oxford Afrikaans-Engels Skoolwoordeboek English-Afrikaans School Dictionary includes more illustrations, bilingual labels, an updated pronunciation guide and vocabulary linked to key school subjects.

The Oxford School Dictionary and Vocabulary Builder combines a dictionary and thesaurus. It includes South African words such as ‘samoosa’, ‘kombi’ and ‘koppie’, along with a seven-page guide to using a thesaurus.

Dariol Wicomb, Dictionaries Publisher at OUPSA, says printed and digital resources can be used together, ‘Printed and digital resources should not be seen as opposites. Together, they can give learners both speed and deeper understanding.’.

Parents and teachers can view the Oxford Essential Dictionaries series and sample pages at Oxford University Press South Africa.