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JULY 1, 2005 at 10:35 AM
Posted by GERI
Source: The Guardian via Veritaserum
The new edition of the Oxford Primary Dictionary now includes
some Harry Potter references aimed to help seven-to-11-year-olds understand the meanings of words. The new issue includes the words insolent, lounge and haphazardly.
Insolent, adjective - very rude and insulting, quoted from The Prisoner of Azkaban: "Malfoy gave Professor Lupin an insolent stare, which took in the patches on his robes and the dilapidated suitcase."
Haphazardly is explained by a quote from The Chamber of Secrets: "Mrs Weasley was clattering around, cooking breakfast a little haphazardly, throwing dirty looks at her sons as she threw sausages into the frying pan."
And Professor Snape makes malevolent easy: "'A bad idea, Professor Lockhart,' said Snape, gliding over like a large and malevolent bat."
Andy Simpson, a spokesman for Oxford Children's Books said:
All authors use language creatively. Some enjoy playing with words and pushing children with a more stretching, challenging use of language. But the Oxford Primary Dictionary is the first children's dictionary to use real citations taken from a large range of the best of children’s literature.
And its choice of citations from texts children are intimately familiar with, sets a fantastic example for children and helps improve their reading and writing skills. Far from a traditional boring textbook, the Oxford Primary Dictionary is a fun reference book which can form the basis of interactive sessions in class and at home.
The dictionary features hundreds of citations from children's authors including JK Rowling, Philip Pullman and Roald Dahl.
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Prefect
Points: 307
Dartsam says:
This is a really great idea. It is a good way to help bring language to where people are.
Posted Jul 4, 2005 at 11:34 AM EST
Auror
Points: 4080
RON's all up in heRmiONe says:
They should add more words to the dictionary also. Like quidditch, and other words. I added them to my computer dictionary.
Posted Jul 4, 2005 at 5:03 PM EST
Witch
Points: 874
Together Forever, H/Hr... says:
Thats pretty awsome. I want to get it. Personally I want to know what trainers sre. I think its just another work for tennis shoes butI'm not sure.
In Christ
DanRad820
Posted Jul 4, 2005 at 5:44 PM EST
Sly. Dragon Tamer
Points: 2717
tristram says:
How wonderful, I will have to get a copy of it for my children! I am glad to see that HP is being taken this seriously.
~Tristram~
Posted Jul 4, 2005 at 5:52 PM EST
High Inquisitor
Points: 23483
KT Lady says:
WOW What a great way to stay on the same level as children. I definitely like that idea. I want to pick up a Children's Dictionary now just to see HP quoted! :P
Posted Jul 4, 2005 at 7:12 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 22
snuffles_08 says:
This is a good idea, I never thought about how younger kids might not understand some of the words in the books, because their normal words for me.
Posted Jul 4, 2005 at 8:35 PM EST
Witch
Points: 564
nevada pooh says:
That is so cool. I don't know how often I look up words and it will give a definition but it won't be used in a sentence. This will help kids to learn the right way to use a word.
Posted Jul 4, 2005 at 10:23 PM EST
Squib
Points: 138
Dancing_House_Elf says:
I dont see how putting harry potter quotes in a dictionary will help much? Who reads the dictionary anymore when we have the Internet?
Posted Jul 4, 2005 at 10:37 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 411
SouthernWitch05 says:
WOW..thats cool. there are a few things i know that took me a little while to find out what they meant
Posted Jul 4, 2005 at 11:50 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 337
sarahpatrick says:
That is a brilliant idea..
Right???
sarahpat
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 2:34 AM EST
Student
Points: 216
Jassymine says:
That's a great idea, good job to the person who thought of it.
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 2:42 AM EST
Squib
Points: 151
The Auror says:
Awesome. Now everyone can understand Harry Potter Crystal clear. Great Job Oxford. Keep it up.
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 4:50 AM EST
Squib
Points: 151
The Auror says:
Awesome. Now everyone can understand Harry Potter Crystal clear. Great Job Oxford. Keep it up.
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 4:56 AM EST
Keeper of the Faeries
Points: 5239
juliebug04 says:
I think that will help a lot of people. Some of those words are just not used often in today's society and are probably a little hard to understand for some people.
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 9:14 AM EST
The Gryffindor Guy
Points: 2727
z Jamie Potter z says:
Thats very cool, it's very very cool. When I first started readin Harry Potter in english, I'd never heard some of the words before.
Hahaha, actually I didnt know what those three words meant, so thanks for bringing them up
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 11:50 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2419
Gwenyth says:
I think its wonderful idea to add these words to a society where abbreviations are so prodominant such as SUV, ATM, and CPU.
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 1:24 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 5
Scrittle says:
It becomes a lot easier to relate to words if you can use them in a sentance that you know about and like.
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 1:51 PM EST
Witch
Points: 537
Head Dementor says:
That's cool!
At least the younger readers of HP will be able to look up word they do not understand.
I think it is actually a pretty smart idea.
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 1:51 PM EST
Witch
Points: 929
*autumn_leaves* says:
This will defintely impact the number of readers readind Harry Potter.
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 3:24 PM EST
Witch
Points: 885
Rachyracho says:
I think it is great that they have decided to add some of the bigger "grown up" words from Harry Potter in the children's dictionary. I know that when I was younger I didn't have nearly as large a vocabulary as I do now and would have wanted someplace to look up those words other than my mom's big scary dictionary.
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 3:24 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2913
Pema says:
That is so awesome! I really don't like it when dictionaries use bad examples or ones that we can't really understand or relate to. Those are really good. And I like to read dictionaries too. I must check one of those dictionaries!
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 3:29 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1493
Hedwig4eva says:
That is a very wonderful idea. It'll help many of the younger readers figure out what some words mean. And it'll help some of us older readers as well.
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 4:17 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 83
HPfan2002 says:
I think kids need to extend their vocabulary. I like the idea of adding those words.
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 8:23 PM EST
Vader's Veela
Points: 3858
seekerfan says:
Kids will identify with those references. If they are reading the books, I hope the look up the words that are too difficult for them. They'd understand the books more if they did.
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 8:45 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1921
gubbyfish says:
What a great resource for kids. They are finally coming up with creative ways to interest kids in learning. This sounds like a fun dictionary!
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 9:33 PM EST
Student
Points: 290
hairypawter90 says:
I think that this is a great idea! Not only will it help many people understand Harry Potter books/text better, it will give JK Rowling more recognition, not as a children's book writer, but as an author with a real text style, like JRR Tolkein. (did I spell that right?)
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 10:34 PM EST
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