LOCATION INFORMATION

(Dictionary &Thesaurus.......Reference Skills)

The major language skills are Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing.
While mobilising all efforts to realize these goals, the English Teacher's task is
not finished. There are some other skills also referred to as supplementary skills
to the developed in our students.
The ideal of English language learning is to develop all the major skills and the
supplementary skills in the most balanced manner so that both linguistic and
communicative competencies are nurtured to the maximum level. In other
words ,it is termed as 'integrating the skills' . Integrating skills doesn't mean
that all the skills are meant to be attained at once in a class or in a year.
STUDY SKILLS
Study skills are mainly,
Surveying the relevant text materials and collecting information with
comprehension.
Retrieving the stock of information and knowledge in proper contexts.
The English teacher has a great role in developing study skills in English
which will be unconsciously transmitted to other subjects also. Study means
close examination of a subject. For this process, one should possess certain
skills known as Study skills.
To find information to solve the present problem/source. Information is to be
gathered quickly for which one has to locate what a needed and then
comprehend. Knowledge of what to refers to or the sources available is a prerequisite. One of the factors related to some supplementary skills is
Referencing.
REFERENCE SKILL
Reference skill means the ability to make use of Reference books effectively for
gathering information. Information is to be gathered quickly for which one has
to locate what is needed and the comprehend.The use of DICTIONARY and
THESAURUS are the effective way to improve the vocabulary of the students.

The teacher should teach and train the students to use these reference books in a
proper way.

DICTIONARY
A word dictionary com from the Latin word dictionarium, which means a
book that lists and explains the words of a language. The earliest known
dictionary was written in GREECE in 1000BC.In Greek a dictionary is
known as LEXICON and its writer LEXICOGRAPHER. (LEXICON is all
the words used in a particular language/subject/a dictionary)
A dictionary is a book which contains the meaning of almost all the
words of the language

Basically, a dictionary is a book dealing with words of language or with

words or topic of a special subject. First of all, the world saw the evolution
of language dictionary only. Later on, with development in each subject.
eg: Dictionary of Mathematics
Dictionary of Computer
Dictionary of Law

The first English language alphabetical dictionary was written by

ROBERT CAWDREY ie , A TABLE ALPHABETICAL.

SAMUEL JOHNSON completed DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH

LANGUAGE was considered the truly comprehensive English dictionary
The dictionaries of different periods reflect the characteristics of language of
the times , but modern dictionaries have the characteristics of
standardization of languages. There are 2 types of dictionaries;
PRESCRIPTIVE DICTIONARY : Its attempt to set authoritative
standards based on opinion and judgment of the compilers regarding what
should be accepted as standard, regardless of the users attitudes of the
native language.
Eg: Samuel Johnsons Dictionary of English
Language in 1747
DESCRIPTIVE DICTIONARY: This type of dictionary the language
represents the current way it is used . ie , considering the native speakers
inheritance of the language. Eg : The Oxford English Dictionary &
Websters Third New International Dictionary

In general , Type of dictionaries

General Dictionary Eg: English-English Malayalam
Subject Dictionary Eg: Mathematics
Special Dictionary Eg: Pronunciation

The present day dictionaries

The Advanced Learners Dictionary of Current English(OXFORD)
Macmillan Students Dictionary
The Concise Oxford Dictionary
The Longman Modern Dictionary
The English Pronouncing Dictionary (Daniel John)
DICTIONARY SKILLS
* Locate alphabetical pattern
* Learn abbreviation
* Learn capitalization
* Learn synonymous
* Learn parts of speech

* Learn hyphenation
* Learn meaning
* Learn spelling
* Learn pronunciation
* Learn syllabification

THESAURUS
Thesaurus in Greek means a treasure house. It is similar to Dictionary of
words like The New Oxford Dictionary of English
According to Webster's Dictionary , Thesaurus is a book containing a store
of words of information about a particular field or a set of concepts. Modern
Thesauruses contain various categories of information.
Thesaurus in general gives:

Homonyms
Synonyms
Illustrative example
Linguistic evidence
Phrasal verbs

Idiomatic phrases
Standard Vs informal word English
Opposites
Related terms
Combining forms
Awkward synonyms and confusable

Thesaurus help us to enrich our vocabulary and usage. It is for reference ,

not for, general reading and comprehension. It can be made a linguistic
hobby to refer to Thesaurus.
Not all words have synonyms or neither antonyms nor exactly sensible
meanings for words, for eg. :cow , bench , eat etc.....But the true and false
are absolute antonyms ; hot and cold are antonyms in varying degrees of
composition. The entire selected in Thesaurus are general terms . It leads
the reader from the familiar to the unfamiliar.

Important Thesaurus

Oxford American Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus(3rd edition)

The Thinker's Thesaurus :Sophisticated Alternatives to Common Words
Explorations in Automatic Thesaurus Discovery
Roget's Thesaurus of Words for Intellectuals
West's Legal Thesaurus/Dictionary

Importance of REFERENCE SKILLS

It help the learner to be independent learner
It connects the learner with authentic information
It facilitates accurate comprehension
It helps increase knowledge
It helps master language elements
It causes creative expression
It ensures continuous improvement
It enriches our vocabulary
It develops competence of learners