Proverbs as illustrative examples in a Tshivenḓa bilingual dictionary: A reflection of meaning and culture

Abstract

Illustrative examples are defining devices that illustrate the use of a word. They serve to illustrate the grammatical behaviour and semantic usage of the lexical item. In a bilingual dictionary, illustrative examples show the words in a live context, thereby enhancing the user's understanding of the meaning of the lexical item in the foreign language. The absence of examples usually results in a severe lowering of the standard of the dictionary (Zgusta, 1971), especially in a bilingual dictionary. A lexicographer can use either phrases or sentences, or both, to illustrate the meaning of lexical items. Van Warmelo (1989), in his bilingual dictionary, Venda Dictionary: Tshivenda—English, uses both phrases and sentences to enhance the user's understanding of the meaning of a lexical item. In addition to phrases and sentences, the lexicographer also uses proverbs and riddles as illustrative examples. This article seeks to address the question: Why does Van Warmelo use proverbs as a device to illustrate the use of a lexical item in context? The aim of the article is to exemplify the use of proverbs as illustrative examples in enhancing the user's understanding of both the meaning of lexical units and the Tshivenḓa culture in Van Warmelo's bilingual dictionary.