Dictionaries and Its Role in Increasing Interest in Children Language Learning

This study focuses on the role and the search of dictionary’s characteristic that can attract children learning language, especially in terms of lexical. Lexical is defined as words or vocabulary of a language which in much easier words lexical is content word, which means words that have meaning and can stand on its own without looking at its use in a sentence. The main objective of this study was to verify the role of the dictionary in order to attract children to learn the language by applying the theory of Aim Behaviorism. The next objective was to identify dictionary’s characteristic that can help to expand children’s vocabulary. Emphasis on language learning only involves the mastery of language on lexical aspect, whereas the dictionary’s characteristic is seen in dictionary lemma. Description of data will be done qualitatively. The sample consisted of 50 respondents of 6 years old children. Researcher used field studies method by surveys, observation, recording and questionnaire towards research respondents. The questionnaire covers questions about knowledge of dictionary and information related to linguistic environmental factors that influence children’s lexical mastery. Respondents were also given the vocabulary test to identify dictionary’s character. The findings proved that dictionary is a medium that can attract children to learn the language, while the dictionary that has the appropriate entry is able to help children develop their vocabulary