Aspects of Monolingual Urdu Learner's Dictionary for Children

Abstract

Dictionaries play an important role in the process of standardization of a language. Dictionaries are also used to elevate a language and to expand it. Compilation of a dictionary is an intricate process in itself. Once this process was Lexicographer’s oriented but now it is user oriented. English Lexicography has a long tradition and lexicographers are continuously making efforts to produce user friendly dictionaries. But situation is different as far as Urdu lexicography is concerned. The present study aimed at investigating the user perspective in Urdu Lexicography in Pakistan with special reference to children. In the first chapter, after giving a brief introduction to the present research, aims and objectives of this research are highlighted. Basically this study looks at four perspectives: to assess the needs of the target users, to evaluate the existing dictionaries and to propose the design features of a monolingual Urdu learners’ dictionary for children. During this process, we shall also look into the possibilities of collecting an Urdu Corpus as the basis of monolingual Urdu learners’ dictionary for children. In chapter 2, the researcher has discussed the role of dictionaries in language learning. Purpose of this discussion is to highlight the importance of dictionaries as language learning tool. Chapter 3 presents an overview of the researches done in the field of lexicography and an attempt is made to place the current research in the existing body of literature. In chapter 4, research methodology adopted for this research has been rationalized. As users’ perspective dominates this dissertation so it was necessary to investigate the specific needs of the children. The needs of the children are analyzed in chapter five and then in the next chapter selected monolingual Urdu dictionaries for children are analyzed in detail and a comparison is made between the needs of the users and the amount of information provided in these dictionaries. It was found that these dictionaries fail to fulfill the needs of the users. In chapter seven, an experiment conducted to check the effects of the use of a trial dictionary on students’ performance is described in detail. Results of the experiment showed that students performed better in comprehension test with the help of dictionaries. In the final chapter, a user friendly model of monolingual Urdu dictionaries for children has been presented and is explained with the help of some example entries. Possibilities of developing an Urdu corpus as the basis of a monolingual Urdu learners’ dictionary for children are also explored. This study is hoped to promote user friendly lexicographic practice for children in Urdu language. As users are the only judge to evaluate the effectiveness of a dictionary so this dissertation also suggests that users’ needs should be at the core of any lexicographic endeavor in the context of Urdu lexicography in Pakistan.