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 pre-requisite. 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 : It’s attempt to set authoritative standards based on opinion and judgment of the compilers regarding what should be accepted as standard, regardless of the user’s attitudes of the native language. Eg: Samuel Johnson’s 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 speaker’s inheritance of the language. Eg : The Oxford English Dictionary & Webster’s 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 Learner’s 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 hyphenation* Learn abbreviation * Learn meaning* Learn capitalization * Learn spelling* Learn synonymous * Learn pronunciation* Learn parts of speech * Learn syllabification

THESAURUSThesaurus 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