Taljard, Elsabe (Elizabeth)Prinsloo, Danie J. (Daniel Jacobus), 1953-Fricke, Irene2012-06-202012-06-202011Taljard, E, Prinsloo, DJ & Fricke, I 2011, 'The use of LSP dictionaries in secondary schools - a South African case study', South African Journal of African Languages, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 87-109.0257-2117 (print)http://hdl.handle.net/2263/19216This article reports on the results of a broad evaluation of the efficacy of the Multilingual Explanatory Science Dictionary and Multilingual Explanatory Math Dictionary in a multilingual educational environment. The aim of the investigation is to ascertain (a) whether the target users possess the necessary dictionary using skills to make use of the dictionaries effectively, and (b) whether the benefit of exposure to definitions of terms in the home language is significant in the decoding of the meaning of science and mathematical terms. Data were collected by means of two questionnaires that were completed by members of the intended target user group. Participants in the study revealed themselves inexperienced and untrained dictionary users with rudimentary dictionary using skills. They were able to perform simple look-up procedures but performed badly in cases where a more sophisticated approach is called for.enAfrican Language Association of Southern AfricaLSP dictionariesDictionary using skillsHome languageDecodingMultilingual Explanatory Math DictionaryMultilingual Explanatory Science DictionaryLexicography -- South AfricaEncyclopedias and dictionaries -- South Africa -- Use studiesMultilingual education -- South AfricaDictionaries, Polyglot -- Use studiesEducation, Secondary -- Aims and objectives -- South AfricaTerms and phrases -- South Africa -- LexicographyArticle