The Department of African Languages encourages development of a dictionary culture in Makapanstad

This monolingual dictionary is mainly aimed at mother-tongue speakers (1st language speakers), but can also be useful to 2nd and 3rd language speakers who have a broader knowledge of the language.

Ms Refilwe Ramagoshi explained and discussed the importance of a dictionary and the importance of inculcating a dictionary culture among the learners and the teachers. The dictionaries were handed over to the attendees and the attendees were taught the proper way of using dictionaries by making them focus on the introduction in the dictionary (the front matter) provided to them, to give them guidance and explanations of how this specific dictionary should be used.

The learners were then given an opportunity to do practical activities, such as looking up words or phrases to see which learner could find the word or the phrase first. Emphasis was placed on the principle of alphabetical ordering – something with which many learners are unfamiliar. Various strategies of cross referencing were also explained to the learners. The teachers and the Setswana Subject Advisor Mrs Eliza Mokhine assisted with the facilitation of these activities.