Language /
I need a good dictionary! (book) [21]
I wouldn't recommend a basic dictionary, even for a beginner. It can be very confusing. You might not get all the meaning of certain words and therefore misunderstand something, you may misuse a word because you are not given enough context in the dictionary etc..
I often see elementary level students having problems because their dictionary is too basic. E.g. when I give them a short text to write as a homework (stuff like: describe what the person in the picture is wearing), they have problems with finding any new word if they don't have a proper dictionary. Most of the attempts to find new words end in a failure because basic dictionaries give them only the translation of a word, without examples of usage, collocations, context etc.
A dictionary cannot be used as an equivalent of a textbook. They are not designed to learn from them, they're just for looking up the vocabulary and there's a lot of other important things in language learning apart from vocabulary, especially for a beginner. So, if you learn basic Polish, it doesn't mean it will be easier with a basic dictionary. On the contrary: it will be harder. You need a basic textbook and a good dictionary. And a good one has:
-examples of usage of the word
-collocations
-popular fixed phrases connected with the word and basic idioms
in most entries.
The more basic the word is, the more difficult it is to use. The entries for the basic vocabulary are usually the longest ones.
But, of course, for basic learning a two volume giant is not necessary. I think Collins is enough. The most important thing is how the entries look like.
A good-looking entry;-) (Oxford-PWN)
chair [IPA pronunciation]
I.
n1.
(seat) krzesło
n; (also
armchair) fotel
m;
the dentist's chair fotel dentystyczny;
to take a chair zająć miejsce, usiąść;
over or
on the back of a chair na oparciu krzesła
2. (chairperson) przewodnicząc|y
m, -a
f;
to take the chair objąć przewodniczenie;
to be in the chair przewodniczyć;
to address one's remarks to or
through the chair skierować uwagi do przewodniczącego or prowadzącego;
Chair! Chair! proszę o spokój!
3. Univ (professorship) katedra
f;
to hold the chair of physics kierować katedrą fizyki
4. US (also
electric chair) krzesło
n elektryczne;
to go to the chair pójść na krzesło elektryczne
II
vt1. przewodniczyć (czemuś), po|prowadzić
[meeting]2. GB n|ieść, -osić na ramionach [/i][hero]
A bad-looking entry:
portalwiedzy.onet.pl/tlumacz.html?qs=chair&tr=ang-auto
Imagine you want to write: "There's a chair next to my desk"
