The “KUSHAIK” is an attempt at opening up new vistas in the field of lexicography.
Dictionary compiling has kept to the beaten track, so much so, that nearly all dictionaries on the market are almostidentical.
To achieve its objective, the “KUSHAIK” is divided into two major parts. Each part deals with a specific area, presumably of interest to translators, teachers and advanced learners of English at large.
Part I is exclusively of an idiomatic nature. But as far as idioms go, the “KUSHAIK” pays special attention to idiomatic expressions which are completely distorted once they are literally interpreted. If you already know expressions like: “the sky is the limit”(1), “there are
books and books”(2), “pay on the nail”(3), ”an away match”(4),”Brains Trust”(5), ”wet behind the ears”(6),”put one’s best foot forward”(7), etc.,
then and only then, will you be hardly interested in Part I.
If not, its inclusion is not out of place.
Part II comprises idioms based on various parts of the human body such as”heart”, “eye”, “tooth”, “finger”, etc. They are singled out in the belief that they are of particular interest to learners of English.
But why, it may be asked, is the “KUSHAIK” exclusively concerned with “idiomatic expressions” ? In the preface to his “Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary Of Current English” A. S.
Hornby has the answer when he says, “An important sign of a person who has learnt English from a native-speaker (or a person who has a native-speaker’s command of the language) is his knowledge of the meaning and correct use of idioms or idiomatic expressions”.
To secure optimum benefit, examples and/or explanations are made use of to help the average reader understand better the idiomatic expression in a meaningful context. Since the “KUSHAIK” is originally intended to be “English-English-Arabic”, the Arabic version is given, literary and/or vernacular, along with the English meaning, an approach infrequent, so far, in the field of dictionary compiling.
In compiling the “KUSHAIK” it is earnestly hoped that it will meet a long-felt need on the part of learners of English in general, and translators in particular.
Despite the utmost care given to the compilation of the “KUSHAIK” over some six years or so, I would be really grateful to those who might raise a question here or there.
With your remarks, comments, criticism and what not, the “KUSHAIK” can grow apace for the good of all.
Looking forward to the same I do acknowledge well in advance my indebtedness to each and every contributor to make the “KUSHAIK” worthy of being a pioneer. In order to be doubly sure of both accuracy and coverage I have consulted, when a need arises, the following dictionaries to whose compilers and editors I wish to acknowledge my gratitude and tender my sincere thanks :
- Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English
- The Concise Oxford Dictionary
- Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language
- Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary (unabridged)
- Thorndike Barnhart Dictionary of Current English
- Everyman’s English Pronouncing Dictionary
- www.kushaik.com
A. K.
Cairo, March 3rd., 1991
Ramadan 10th., 1411 H.
