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Does this dictionary also reflect the same culture? Is does, in so far as it is effective, but it is also easy on the eye, and it has several useful features that make it truly international, like British and American variations in spellings and pronunciation, and international entries, read largely American and British. The language notes in idioms, writing, linking ideas, etc., are helpful, though why these have been placed in the middle of the book is not explicable. This dictionary should be of use to students, who would possibly love the very features that purists might complain about-convenient format, colour and modern design. For those with computers, the CD version adds immense value, especially spoken examples of British and American pronunciation, to the print edition, and is well worth the extra money. — RS |
As
a student, this reviewer became familiar with ELBS dictionaries, and for
more difficult words, one consulted the Shorter Oxford. These were
helpful, and the journey of wading through dense, black and white text
till one reached one's destination was always an adventure. However, now
a few decades later, the dictionary under review comes with entries in
blue and red fonts (for the 3,000 most commonly used words). It has
shaded boxes, entries with highlights and various devices that are more
in tune with the world where writing has been replaced by word
processing, a skill that is remarkably effective, though it leaves
something out for the traditionalist.