A3. Why make a Dictionary?

This lesson explains the importance of creating bilingual or multilingual minority-language dictionaries. Key points include:

• Definition: Dictionaries define the meanings of words and can range from wordlists to lexicons.

• Functions: They preserve linguistic and cultural heritage, standardize written forms, and support language revitalization.

• Audiences: Beneficiaries include the language community, government officials, neighboring communities, linguists, Bible translation projects, and future generations.

• Impact: Dictionaries boost self-esteem, promote literacy, aid translation, and serve as tools for preserving endangered languages.

The lesson emphasizes the value of dictionaries in maintaining linguistic diversity and contributing to the global linguistic knowledge base.

OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com