WHAT IS AN ENCYCLOPEDIA FOR? 5 IMPORTANT USES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The encyclopedias serve as a tool for documentary research, teaching and learning in multiple areas. An encyclopedia is a record of the knowledge of humanity in the format of writings summarized with information from the various branches of that knowledge.

According to Unesco, it is a list of terms arranged alphabetically or systematically that tries to give the maximum information on exhaustive subjects. They exist in physical and online format.

The word encyclopedia with the current meaning, set of knowledge, appeared in the 16th century. Compilations of sets of knowledge in encyclopedic works developed in the Middle Ages. But they were called summa, epeculum, or imago mundi.

Uses of an encyclopedia

1- Academic and specialized research

For studies and homework it is normal for students to look for information in books, virtual references or newspapers. Encyclopedias facilitate this task by containing detailed knowledge.

Additionally, encyclopedias as authored by various qualified authors contain reliable data and information. Otherwise, this type of information could only be completed by searching for several books.

For this reason, the encyclopedia becomes a practical and safe instrument in the study. They serve as a reference and support. In addition, encyclopedias, as well as much of the research they send in schools, have specialized but easy-to-understand themes and messages.

You may be interested How is Information Located in an Encyclopedia?

2- Personal inquiry

Today and since their creation, encyclopedias have been useful to expand knowledge on topics of interest. These works were created in order to offer a compendium of universal knowledge that could enlighten the common man.

For this reason, it is normal even today to resort to encyclopedias to: satisfy a curiosity, to learn more about the world around us and to request in-depth information on general topics.

This type of search may respond to mere personal interests. Encyclopedias cover the knowledge needs of people. It can be used as a basic research step or as a deepening of a meaning.

3- Professional documentation

General encyclopedias provide an overview of a wide range of topics, whereas partial encyclopedias of specific topics exist.

Its function is to explain all aspects of a human category. For example, there are those from a specific culture, from a historical period or from a country.

There are professions that require their specialists to keep up to date and looking for new information. Thematic encyclopedias are useful for them.

In many cases, each definition in an encyclopedia is accompanied by a short bibliography. This is convenient for those who want to drill down and search for references on a very complex topic. Both in the academic and professional fields.

4- History and general culture

Dictionaries can be useful for learning words and their meanings, but an encyclopedia is better when learning about a completely unfamiliar subject.

In this difference lies the exhaustiveness of the content and its uses to expand culture, rather than vocabulary.

Furthermore, encyclopedias have become a cultural symbol of learning and general culture. Since its inception, it allowed its user to access all the knowledge of humanity. That is, to have a scientific, philosophical and artistic knowledge with which he could face the world.

5- Know pronunciations, common mistakes, etc.

Encyclopedias also have a list of terms that expand the use of reviews.

The errata, list of abbreviations, pronunciation and cross references are some of them.

These data vary and allow to know additional details to the meanings and concepts of each topic.

References

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2. Encyclopedia. National Library of Spain. Recovered from bne.es.
3. Head, A. (2007.) Beyond Google: How Do Students Conduct Academic Research? (How do students conduct academic research?). Recovered from firstmonday.org.
4. Jaschik, S. (2007). Inside Higher Ed: A Stand Against Wikipedia (A position against Wikipedia)
5. Recovered from insidehighered.com.
6. What is an encyclopedia? Recovered from misrespuestas.com.