The use of pictorial illustrations in African language dictionaries

Abstract

This article examines the use of pictorial illustrations in African language dictionaries, with particular reference to items generally included in dictionaries based on Stein's (1991) categories. It argues for the need to include more illustrations of cultural items specific to a particular community and language group in dictionaries. A corpus analytic survey is done to determine if African language dictionaries employ pictorial illustrations and, if so, which items are illustrated. The results of this survey indicate that only a few African language dictionaries employ pictorial illustrations, even those that do correspond to Stein's categories. Of the dictionaries examined, only one uses illustrations in the form of full-colour photographs, namely of different kinds of cattle, a very important cultural item within that specific community.