Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

When I first entered university, my aunt, who is an English professor, gave me s new English dictionary. I was surprised to see that it was an English-English dictionary, also known as a monolingual dictionary. Although it was a dictionary intended for non�native learners, none of my classmates had one and, to be honest, I found it extremely difficult to use at first. I would look up words in the dictionary and still not fully understand the meaning, I wad used to the familiar bilingual dictionaries, in which the words are explained both in English and Chinese ,I really wondered why my aunt decided to make things so difficult for me. Now ,after studying English at university for three years, I understand that monolingual dictionaries are better in learning a foreign language
As I found out, there is, in fact, often NO perfect equivalence between two words in two languages. My aunt even goes so far as to _____ that a Chinese �equivalent� can never give you the exact meaning of a word in English!

The answer for the blank is "declare", which I doubt whether is suitable.
As far as I learn, declare is used to state in public a decision. I think "tell me" is more appropriate in this case. Am I right?

Thanks

[lotus]

Hi Jasonlulu,

The aunt is declaring as fact that a Chinese �equivalent� can never give you the exact meaning of a word in English.

The phrase is correct. A declaration does not have to be public. Individuals can declare things to themselves or to others.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda