Often times dictionaries contain words that are described in very little detail and do not contain the specific features of each word. For instance, the sentence "I married her" may suggest the marriage is still viable, but in reality, the couple may be separated. If continued, the sentence could be expanded to "I married her in 2000, but we separated three years later."
The point being, the sentence alone is not completely clear and many dictionaries do not make it so. In fact, the sentence can have various meanings depending on its context and usage, therefore, to try to figure out its meaning out of context is futile.
Nevertheless, this is what many individuals who are not completely familiar with the English language do, by depending on popular dictionaries to guide them. This results in a misunderstanding of the language and its meaning.
Interpreters and translators do much more than a dictionary could even possibly attempt to do. Thus, when important dialogue needs to be understood in various languages, nothing can replace an interpreter to put the language into correct context and provide a proper translation.
12 December 2008
