Can I change the default iBooks English dictionary to British English (with IPA pronunciation)?

Question

Level 1

8 points

Can I change the default iBooks English dictionary to British English (with IPA pronunciation)?

At the moment, the default dictionary in my iBooks app seems to American English although my default iOS language is set to British English. I also have the keyboard language set to English (UK), and although not pertinent to this question, Spanish also. I don't mind so much that the dictionary is American English but the ridiculous pronunciation guide is really getting on my nerves, it uses some sort of stupid accent marks above the vowels instead of the internationally recognised IPA. It is driving me crazy that there is no simple way to simply change the default dictionary language on iOS when it is simple on OS X. When I look something up on my MacBook I not only get the British English defintion but also the pronunciation denoted in IPA, therefore I know Apple can do this. It's not rocket science.

Basically my question is, is there a simple way of changing the default dictionary in iBooks on iOS?

iPod touch, iOS 4.2

Posted on Dec 31, 2012 4:58 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,940 points

Dec 31, 2012 7:58 AM in response to polito

Do you have the same problem when using the dictionary to define something you have typed with the English (UK) keyboard in Notes?

In OS X you can switch the American English dictionary between IPA and the other pronunciation guide via the app preferences, but such settings are missing in iOS.

Reply

Answer 2

polito Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 2, 2013 1:41 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

Hi Tom. Sorry, I'm only running iOS 4.1 not 4.2 as it says on my previous entry. So, unfortunately, I don't have the ability to check the spelling in Notes.

However, I can't believe that Apple haven't included a simple way to choose the dictionary you want in iOS. Even in the Kindle app for iPhone you can specify the dictionary you want. I'm currently using the British Oxford dictionary on Kindle on my iPod touch. It kind of goes against the grain of it just works. Yes, maybe it just works if you're from the United States.

I should qualify all of the above by saying that I am generally a happy Apple customer. For example, I switched to Mac ten years ago and have never looked back.

Reply

Answer 3

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,940 points

Jan 2, 2013 2:47 PM in response to polito

I thought your profile had probably not been updated. But if you are indeed still on iOS 4, there is no dictionary choice in any case. You need the current iOS 6 so you can switch among English, UK English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese reference dictionaries.

Reply