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Oxford University Press Southern Africa
Oxford University Press Southern Africa
New edition of South Africa’s best-selling school dictionary

April 2010

Would you notice something was wrong if someone asked you to “pass me a scissor”? How about “I bought a jean last week”? Many South Africans wouldn’t think twice. The correct usage is in fact, “Pass me a pair of scissors” and “I bought a pair of jeans last week”. These are just two examples of common usage mistakes that South Africans (learners and adults alike) make, and that are addressed in the third edition of the Oxford South African School Dictionary.

Published by Oxford University Press Southern Africa, the new edition is an even better version of the dictionary that is among the non-fiction top-sellers in this country. Oxford’s dictionary team asked a range of South African teachers what they liked about the second edition, which is approved for use in all nine provinces, and what improvements teachers would like, and then set about developing the third edition.

Following extensive research into the words learners actually need to understand their textbooks (and in turn demonstrate their improved understanding in exams), the dictionary was developed from a unique dictionary corpus (or database) of a range of approved textbooks for all subjects from Grades 4 to 9. Using software to analyse this database, lexicographers identified the words that learners need to study and communicate effectively, such as:

  • words that form the foundation of other learning areas, e.g. angle and mammal
  • more advanced curriculum terms, e.g. algorithm, ammeter and biomass
  • words that form part of South African English vocabulary, e.g. spaza and tik
Other features that make using this new edition a pleasure for learners and teachers alike include:
  • synonyms and opposites to help build vocabulary and write more effectively
  • carefully chosen illustrations and diagrams to boost users’ understanding of hard-to-define words, e.g. alimentary canal, the greenhouse effect, revolve
  • word histories, covering a range of source languages from French, Greek and Latin to Japanese and several South African languages, giving learners insight into how languages change as well as fulfilling curriculum requirements
  • pronunciation guidance for every headword, in an easy-to-use respelling format, to ensure that users pronounce words accurately, e.g. colonel (say kur-nuhl)
Geraldine Goldblatt, Curriculum Adviser at the Western Cape Education Department, commented: “The selection of entries is excellent and more comprehensive than any dictionary that I have seen. This is the type of dictionary that will encourage children… to read it for pleasure and curiosity, and not only to look up words.”

Goldblatt went on to say: “The Oxford South African School Dictionary has set a new standard for dictionaries… a benchmark in dictionary composition because of the clarity, range and usefulness of entries. It is a real learning tool.”

In addition to activities included in the classroom-ready study pages, a separate Workbook with games and activities to build a wide range of dictionary skills is also available.

The dictionary is currently available in Paperback (R87.95) and Hardback (R129.95) from leading bookshops.

Editorial contact:
Megan Hall
Publishing Manager: Dictionaries
Email: Megan.Hall@oup.com
Tel +27 (0)21 596 2300
Fax +27 (0)21 596 1234
www.oxford.co.za

Sales and Marketing contact:
Lourens Kruger
National Marketing Manager: Schools
Email: Lourens.Kruger@oup.com
Tel +27 (0)21 596 2300
Fax +27 (0)21 596 1234
www.oxford.co.za