An analysis of divergence in selected Northern Sotho/ English bilingual dictionaries

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