Using Bilingual Dictionaries
Taken in Kobe
There is a super-informative article at About.com on using bilingual dictionaries. The article is aimed towards those learning French, but the same concepts apply to any language.
Here are some tips from the article that will apply to any language-lookups:
- look up unmodified words (also known as root words, stem words, un-conjugated or dictionary form words)
- when looking up expressions, look for key words instead of the whole phrase
- look up words right away when you can’t understand them–looking them up later might give you the wrong translation because you aren’t putting it into context
- pay attention to parts of speech (i.e., be careful not to confuse similar-sounding verbs and nouns)
- pay attention to gender if applicable
- don’t overlook dictionary shorthands and abbreviations
- consult a native speaker when possible
- think figuratively rather than literally when translating (otherwise idioms and expressions won’t translate well)
As you can see, the article aims for learners to use the dictionaries as a guide and not as a sole authority on translation. You have to be smart about it and put what you see in context, which is what separates your translations from Google’s. For those learning Japanese, make sure you have the right corresponding kanji character to the word you are looking up–this can make all the difference.
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