Acknowledging the ambiguity of terms like school dictionary, children's dictionary, first language, mother-tongue this article motivates a specific use of school dictionary, first language and learner and focuses on various problems in these dictionaries. The typical functions of these dictionaries are discussed with reference to the lexicographic needs of first-language learners. Looking at a few existing dictionaries, suggestions are made for the inclusion and presentation of certain data types. The importance of the use of natural language in the paraphrases of meaning is discussed. It is emphasised that lexicographers should consult teachers and curriculum experts when planning school dictionaries and that the grade and age of the target user needs to be taken into account. The aim of this article is not to give final solutions to the questions raised but merely to recommend that a number of factors -or variables -are taken into account when planning future school dictionaries. In this respect, a number of questions are formulated that need to be answered when planning the compilation of school dictionaries.
Keywords: CHILDREN'S DICTIONARY, DICTIONARY CULTURE, FIRST LANGUAGE, LEARNER, LEXICOGRAPHIC FUNCTIONS, LEXICOGRAPHICAL NEEDS, LEXICOGRAPHY, MOTHER-LANGUAGE, PARAPHRASE OF MEANING, SCHOOL DICTIONARYOpsomming: Skoolwoordeboeke vir eerstetaalleerders. Met inagneming van die dubbelsinnigheid van terme soos skoolwoordeboek, kinderwoordeboek, eerste taal, moedertaal kies hierdie artikel vir 'n spesifieke gebruik van die terme skoolwoordeboek, eerste taal en leerder. Die fokus is op verskeie probleme in hierdie woordeboeke. Die tipiese funksies van hierdie woordeboeke word bespreek met verwysing na die leksikografiese behoeftes van eerstetaalleerders. Na aanleiding van 'n paar bestaande woordeboeke word voorstelle gemaak vir die opname en aanbieding van sekere datatipes. Die belang van natuurlike taal in die betekenisparafrases word bespreek. Dit word beklemtoon dat leksikograwe ook onderwysers en kurrikulumdeskundiges moet raadpleeg wanneer skoolwoordeboeke beplan word en dat die graad en ouderdom van die teikengebruiker in ag geneem moet word. Die doel van hierdie artikel is nie om finale oplossings te gee vir die bestaande probleme nie maar eerder om aan te beveel dat sekere faktore -of veranderlikes -in ag geneem moet word wanneer skoolwoordeboeke beplan word. In hierdie verband word 'n paar vrae geformuleer waarop antwoorde gevind moet word wanneer beplanning gedoen word vir die daarstel van skoolwoordeboeke.