The role of dictionaries cannot be overemphasised – Prof Fourie-Malherbe

“At a multilingual academic institution like Stellenbosch University, the role of dictionaries cannot be overemphasised, regardless of your study or academic specialist field. The University also provides a proud contribution to the science of lexicography,” Prof Magda Fourie-Malherbe, Vice-Rector: Teaching, said in the run-up to International Dictionary Day on October 16, 2011.

Stellenbosch University (SU) will celebrate International Dictionary Day with an interesting programme on Friday, October 14 at the JS Gericke Library. The programme starts at 13:00 and will end by 14:00. Light refreshments will be served.

“I would like to invite all colleagues and students, including those outside the language disciplines to come and see the exhibition of a variety of dictionaries and listen to Prof Rufus Gouws and Dr Willem Botha,” said Prof Fourie-Malherbe.

“Prof Rufus Gouws, Departmental Chair, Afrikaans & Dutch, will provide insight into the contribution that SU has made to lexicography, while Dr Willem Botha, Chief Editor of the Woordeboek vir die Afrikaanse Taal (WAT), will talk about the WAT and its relationship with SU.”

Prof Fourie-Malherbe stressed that university staff and students are privileged to have free and easy electronic access to the best dictionaries in the world. “You do not have to use outdated dictionaries to find the meaning of a word, a synonym or a translation. With the click of a button you can consult one of the JS Gericke Library’s many leading electronic dictionaries, for example the Oxford English Dictionary, Pharos or Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taal (WAT). The web address for this is: http://library.sun.ac.za/eng/finding/ez_books.html. Click on the dictionary of choice and add it as a “favourite”.

Friday’s event will also serve as the launch of the WAT Borg ʼn Woord Kompetisie (Sponsor a Word Competition) and the winners of the dictionary competition, in which students of five clusters are competing, will be announced.

• Click here to take part in the competition in which R25 000 can be won.