{"id":5197,"date":"2013-11-28T14:00:01","date_gmt":"2013-11-28T12:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/?p=5197"},"modified":"2013-11-28T12:10:06","modified_gmt":"2013-11-28T10:10:06","slug":"at-a-loss-for-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/2013\/11\/at-a-loss-for-words\/","title":{"rendered":"When words fail youWanneer woorde jou ontduik"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

It is argued that the average speaker has a vocabulary of approximately 20 000 words. You can even test<\/a>\u00a0yourself online to see how large (or small) your current vocabulary is.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There’s also the tongue-in-cheek statement that women use more than double the words in comparison to men. I’d rather not comment on this, but you can read more about it\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"But what to do if you struggle with section of text and the right word escapes you? I’ve always been a huge supporter of dictionaries – my desk sighs beneath three of them, but there are easier and faster alternatives which could add value to \u00a0the traditional versions.<\/p>\n

Types of electronic dictionaries can be divided into two sections; online dictionaries and downloadable dictionaries. Each has it’s own advantages, disadvantages and nifty extras. Unfortunately we can’t recommend a specific version, but you can play around with what’s available and let us know which you prefer.<\/p>\n

DOWNLOADABLE DICTIONARIES<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Ultimate Dictionary<\/a>\u00a0is easy to install and use and comprises a collection of 61 dictionaries.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. WordWeb<\/a>\u00a0provides a dictionary and a thesaurus with a wide variety of functions including a keyboard shortcut for faster access.<\/li>\n
  3. TheSage<\/a>\u00a0has more than 210,000 definitions and a thesaurus providing over 1,400,000 relationships between definitions.<\/li>\n
  4. LingoPad<\/a>\u00a0contains a German-English dictionary and additional dictionaries can be downloaded. You can import your own dictionaries and word lists.<\/li>\n
  5. Artha<\/a>\u00a0is based on\u00a0WordNet<\/a>, a large, lexical database of English, developed at Princeton University.\u00a0<\/li>\n
  6. Aard Dictionary<\/a>\u00a0allows users to look up meanings for difficult words using multiple dictionaries in multiple languages. More than 50 different\u00a0dictionaries can be added\u00a0to its database.<\/li>\n
  7. GoldenDict<\/a>\u00a0is a usable on Windows and Linux and supports looking up and listening to pronunciations using forvo.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  8. Lingoes<\/a> is an easy-to-use dictionary and text translation program that offers look up dictionaries, full text translation and pronunciation of words in over 80 languages.<\/li>\n
  9. Mobysaurus Thesaurus<\/a>\u00a0contains 30,260 roots and more than 2.5 million synonyms.\u00a0Mobysaurus Thesaurus is freeware, but you have to register<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    ONLINE DICTIONARIES<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Dictionary.com<\/a>\u00a0is an interactive and reliable source used by 50 million users worldwide per month. It\u2019s the largest and most authoritative free online dictionary and mobile reference resource and can be used on various mobile platforms.<\/li>\n
    2. Free Dictionary<\/a>\u00a0also has, apart from it’s standard functions, other types of dictionaries available, such as\u00a0Medical,\u00a0Legal, and\u00a0Financial\u00a0dictionaries. It\u2019s contains a\u00a0Thesaurus,\u00a0Acronyms and Abbreviations,\u00a0Idioms,\u00a0Encyclopedia, a\u00a0Literature Reference Library, and a search engine.<\/li>\n
    3. Wiktionary<\/a> is the lexical companion to\u00a0Wikipedia. Wiktionary is a wiki and can be edited, however, stricter criteria than their sibling, is applicable.<\/li>\n
    4. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary<\/a>\u00a0is the electronic equal of the Merriam-Webster\u2019s Collegiate\u00ae Dictionary <\/em>and includes abbreviations, foreign words and phrases, biographical and geographical names.<\/li>\n
    5. Oxford Dictionaries Online<\/a>\u00a0offers guidelines for better writing,\u00a0puzzles and games, and a\u00a0language blog.\u00a0<\/li>\n
    6. Collins Dictionary<\/a>\u00a0has\u00a0over 1 million entries, and provides free access to word definitions, translations, and examples. It also has a section where you can play\u00a0word games.<\/li>\n
    7. Word-Net Online<\/a>\u00a0can be used online, but also offers a\u00a0free dictionary and thesaurus programme for Windows.<\/li>\n
    8. OneLook<\/a>\u00a0can be used to find a word when you only have part of it. With their\u00a0Reverse Dictionary<\/em>\u00a0you can describe a concept and it supplies you with a list of words and phrases related to it.<\/li>\n
    9. Urban Dictionary<\/a> is a database of slang words and phrases submitted and rated by site visitors, monitored by volunteer editors. The definitions on Urban Dictionary are meant to be slang or ethnic culture words, phrases, and other terms not found in standard dictionaries.\u00a0<\/li>\n
    10. MetaGlossary<\/a>\u00a0sources and extracts definitions of terms and phrases from the web and gives you precise explanations for them.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      [SOURCE: www.howtogeek.com]<\/p>\n

      <\/p>\n

      Daar word beweer dat die gemiddelde spreker oor ‘n woordeskat van ongeveer 20 000 woorde beskik. Jy kan selfs `n aanlyn-toets <\/a>doen om uit te vind hoe groot (of klein) jou huidige woordeskat is.\u00a0<\/p>\n

      \"\"Ons ken ook die tong-in-die-kies bewering dat vrouens meer as dubbeld soveel as mans praat. Oor laasgenoemde sal ek my liewer nie uitlaat nie, maar jy kan\u00a0hier<\/a>\u00a0meer daaroor lees.<\/span>
      <\/span><\/p>\n

      Maar hoe gemaak as jy worstel met `n stuk teks en die regte woord jou telkens ontduik?\u00a0Ek is `n groot voorstaander van woordeboeke – my lessenaar sug op die oomblik onder drie lywiges, maar daar is ook alternatiewe wat waarde kan toevoeg tot die konvensionele weergawes.<\/p>\n

      Tipes elektroniese woordeboeke kan opgedeel word in twee afdelings – aanlyn woordeboeke en aflaaibare woordeboeke. Elkeen het eie voordele, nadele en handige ekstras. Ongelukkig kan ons nie `n spesifieke weergawe aanbeveel nie, maar jy kan gerus `n bietjie rondspeel en ons laat weet wat jy verkies.<\/p>\n

      AFLAAIBARE WOORDEBOEKE<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Ultimate Dictionary<\/a>\u00a0bevat 61 verskillende tale se woordboeke en is maklik om te installeer en gebruik.<\/li>\n
      2. WordWeb<\/a>\u00a0bied `n woordeboek en tesourus met `n wye verskeidenheid funksies, sowel as `n sleutelbord kortpad vir vinnige toegang.<\/li>\n
      3. TheSage<\/a>\u00a0bevat meer as 210 000 definisies en`n tesourus met meer as 1 400 000 verhoudings tussen woorde.<\/li>\n
      4. LingoPad<\/a>\u00a0bevat `n Duits-Engelse woordeboek, maar ook ander aflaaibare woordeboeke. Jy kan ook jou eie woordeboek oplaai en woordlyste skep.<\/li>\n
      5. Artha<\/a>\u00a0is gebaseer op WordNet,`n groot leksikografiese databasis ontwikkel\u00a0deur Princeton Universiteit.<\/li>\n
      6. Aard Dictionary<\/a>\u00a0laat jou toe om die betekenisse vir moeilike woorde op te soek deur middel van veelvuldige woordeboeke in veelvuldige tale. Jy kan tot 50 addisionele woordeboeke op die databasis byvoeg.<\/li>\n
      7. GoldenDict<\/a>\u00a0kan gebruik word vir Windows en Linux en gebruik ook die uitspraakgids\u00a0forvo.com<\/a><\/li>\n
      8. Lingoes<\/a>\u00a0is `n maklik bruikbare woordeboek en teksvertalingshulpmiddel wat ook betekenisse, vertalings en uitsprake weergee in meer as 80 tale.<\/li>\n
      9. Mobysaurus Thesaurus<\/a>\u00a0bevat 30 260 kernwoorde en meer as 2.5 miljoen sinonieme. Dis gratis, maar jy moet registreer vir toegang.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        AANLYN WOORDEBOEKE<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Dictionary.com<\/a>\u00a0is `n interaktiewe aanlyn woordeboek met meer as 50 miljoen gebruikers w\u00eareldwyd per maand. Dis die grootste gesaghebbende aanlyn woordeboek en mobiele verwysingsbron. Dictionary.com kan ook op mobiele platforms gebruik word.<\/li>\n
        2. The Free Dictionary<\/a>\u00a0lewer, buiten die standaarddienste, ook spesialis-woordeboeke, byvoorbeeld mediese, regs- en finansi\u00eble woordeboeke. Daarbenewens bevat dit `n tesourus, akronieme en afkortings, idiome, `n ensiklopedie, `n liter\u00eare verwysingsdatabasis \u00a0en `n soekenjin.<\/li>\n
        3. Wiktionary<\/a>\u00a0is die leksikografiese metgesel van Wikipedia. Wiktionary is `n wiki en kan dus geredigeer word. Kriteria vir redigering ais egter aansienlik strenger as Wikipedia.<\/li>\n
        4. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary<\/a>\u00a0is die elektroniese eweknie van die Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary <\/em>en sluit ook vreemde woorde en frases en biografiese en geografiese name in.<\/li>\n
        5. Oxford Dictionaries Online<\/a>\u00a0bied riglyne vir beter skryfvaardighede aan lesers, speletjies en raaisels, sowel as `n taalblog.\u00a0<\/li>\n
        6. Collins Dictionary<\/a>\u00a0bevat meer as `n miljoen inskrywings en gratis toegang tot definisies, vertalings en voorbeelde. Hiermee saam bied dit ook `n afdeling vir woordspeletjies.<\/li>\n
        7. Word-Net Online<\/a>\u00a0kan aanlyn gebruik word, maar bied ook `n aflaaibare weergawe vir Windows.<\/li>\n
        8. OneLook<\/a>\u00a0maak raaiwerk nog makliker deur jou toe te laat om slegs `n gedeelte van die woord in te voer en verskaf `n lys van moontlike opsies. Dit het ook `n Reverse Dictionary<\/em>-funksie waarmee `n konsep beskryf kan word en die moontlike verwante opsies van woorde of frases gelys word.<\/li>\n
        9. Urban Dictionary<\/a>\u00a0bevat grotendeels jargon en frases, beoordeel deur besoekers beoordeel en geredigeer deur vrywilligers. Woorde en terme wat hier gevind word, is nie tipies in `n standaard woordeboek nie.<\/li>\n
        10. MetaGlossary<\/a>\u00a0is die w\u00eareld se grootste, voortdurend-opgedateerde depot van informasie. Die informasie word geoes vanaf die internet en verskaf noukeurige en volledige definisies van terme en frases.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          [BRON: www.howtogeek.com]<\/p>\n

          <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          It is argued that the average speaker has a vocabulary of approximately 20 000 words. You can even test\u00a0yourself online to see how large (or small) your current vocabulary is.\u00a0 There’s also the tongue-in-cheek statement that women use more than double the words in comparison to men. I’d rather not comment on this, but you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":259,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5197","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-08 03:43:05","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/259"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5197"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5197\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5274,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5197\/revisions\/5274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}