Abstract:
Bilingual dictionaries often do not meet the needs of dictionary users because they
contain information that is not well presented. This poses as a challenge to the users
because they end up retrieving the wrong information. Divergence is one of the most
important equivalent relation in bilingual dictionaries and lexicographers often take it for
granted. This study analyses the presentation of divergence in selected Northern
Sotho/English bilingual dictionaries with reference to Pharos Popular Northern Sotho
Dictionary and Oxford Northern Sotho/English Bilingual Dictionary. This study further
analyses the use of structural markers in bilingual dictionaries because the
correct/incorrect use of structural markers also have an impact on the presentation of
divergence.
This study reveal that bilingual dictionaries can become user-friendly and meet the needs
of the users if lexicographers can apply appropriate strategies when compiling dictionaries
as this will lead to communicative success
