Dictionaries
Section 2, Activity 3
When
writing in both Scots and English, I freely use online and physical
dictionaries, as well as Thesauruses and Rhyming dictionaries. These
are all hugely useful tools. Engaging with them is by no means a
failure on the part of a writer. I find I can get pleasurably lost in
any dictionary, simply luxuriating in the enjoyment of words –
their roots and all their resonances. If I can’t find a word in my
head, letting my mind freely roam around forests of vocabulary can be
a freeing experience, even if I end up not using anything I’ve
found! (Note: there is no standard spelling of the Scots language –
another potentially freeing factor!)
Let yourself and your pupils be inspired by how I use dictionaries and try this out yourself. Think of some creative ways of using these great tools and take a note in your Learning Log (opens in new tab).