Read and prepare words, definitions, translations, and examples without losing the intended sense.
A dictionary resource helps someone understand a word or expression. For Tabula, the useful contribution is more than a spelling followed by a translated word: it makes the intended meaning understandable and supplies enough context for another person to evaluate it.
| Part | What it tells a reader |
|---|---|
| Kifuliiru form | The word or expression being documented |
| Meaning | The sense intended in this entry |
| Translation or gloss | A way of explaining that sense in another language |
| Usage example | A phrase or sentence showing the form in context |
| Pronunciation information | A spoken example or explanation of how the form is read |
| Context or source | Where the explanation comes from and when it applies |
These describe useful information, not a claim that every Tabula screen uses these exact field names. Work with the controls available in the contribution area.
A word can have several senses. If two situations require different explanations, describe the distinction rather than putting several unexplained translations beside one another. Ask what a learner would need to know to choose the appropriate meaning.
A definition and an example do different jobs. The definition explains the sense; the example shows the form at work. Repeating the same translated word in both places does not add the context that the reader needs.
The public number–noun reference uses umuundu muguma, glossed as “one person”. If you were preparing related dictionary material, keep the distinction between the noun umuundu and the complete phrase umuundu muguma.
The phrase illustrates a quantity with a noun; it should not be presented as a complete sentence or copied as the dictionary meaning of the noun alone. If you do not know the plural or a fuller example, identify that gap instead of filling it with a guess.
Copy the exact form you want to discuss. If you propose a spelling change, retain the original and explain why the alternative better represents the intended word or usage. If several forms are used, describe the context you know rather than assuming that the unfamiliar one must be wrong.
For a borrowed term, specialized expression, or culturally specific sense, explain the setting. A familiar translation can otherwise suggest a broader or different meaning.
Check that the Kifuliiru form, meaning, and example refer to the same sense. Identify the language of the explanation. Make sure any recording belongs to that form rather than a similar word. State the source and any uncertainty that remains.
Continue with contributing language knowledge for a reusable preparation template, or review and corrections for an existing entry that needs attention.
