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1 Why dictionaries?
4 Q&A
Why do English
language learners
need dictionaries?
Why dictionaries?
Types of dictionaries
Native dictionaries vs. learner’s dictionaries
Monolingual dictionaries vs. bilingual/bilingualized dictionaries
Types of dictionaries
Paper dictionaries
Traditional; long-lasting and relatively cheap.
Can be used as desk dictionaries.
Online/Computerized dictionaries
These dictionaries offer a vast amount of living examples, exercises and other
language activities; they are also easy to use with user-friendly search engines
and interface.
Most of the online dictionaries are free.
dictionary.cambridge.com; www.oed.com; www.ldoceonline.com;
www.merriam-webstercollegiate.com; www.dictionary.com
Palmtop dictionaries
A big plus of palmtop dictionaries is that they hold a large amount of data in a
small space, sometimes several paper dictionaries.
The biggest problem lies, paradoxically, in their ease of use. Many students treat
them as pocket translators rather than serious tools of study.
BACK
What’s the
difference between
a native language
dictionary and a
learner’s
贫穷 dictionary?
大小
Big&small
Example
Examples
Detailed grammatical information
Suggest can be followed by
1. a noun phrase,
2. a noun phrase plus a prepositional phrase to somebody (not
suggest somebody something),
3. a that clause (with that being optional),
4. the –ing form of a verb phrase;
5. and that in a construction like “It has been suggested that ...”
the word that is obligatory;
6. and that in British English there may be the modal auxiliary
should in the verb phrase of the that clause, otherwise the
verb is in its base form.
Attention to collocation
wind1
1 […] strong/high winds The forecast is for
strong winds and heavy rain. | gale/hurricane
force winds […] The light wind ruffled the water.
rain1
1 […] heavy/torrential/pouring rain (=a lot of
rain) There will be heavy rain in most parts of the
country. | The light rain had stopped.
Attention to collocation
Knowledge (LDOCE4)
have knowledge
acquire/gain knowledge (= learn something)
technical/scientific knowledge
in-depth knowledge
detailed knowledge
specialist knowledge (= knowledge about a particular subject)
first-hand/personal knowledge (knowledge from experiencing
something for yourself) ...
S1 S2 S3 W1 W2 W3
Information about word frequencies
In Macmillan English Dictionary there are also
three frequency bands, but they cover about
7,300 words:
How many
English
words do you
have?
LDOCE4
LDOCE4
《新英 汉词典 》 (A
New English-Chinese
Dictionary, 2000)
Bilingualized dictionaries
My advice (1)
Start by using a bilingualized
English learner’s dictionary
and switch to the latest edition
of a monolingual learner’s
dictionary.
Which dictionary?
My advice (2)
Do install a computerized
dictionary on your PC.
Which dictionary?
My advice (3)
Better not to use pocket
dictionaries and palmtop
electronic dictionaries
without examples. When you
do use palmtop dictionaries,
treat them with the dignity
and respect a thick paper
dictionary deserves.
How should
language learners
use their
dictionaries?
How to use dictionaries
Read the guide to the dictionary and familiarize yourself with all
the symbols, abbreviations, and note markers. (Turn to
dictionaries for example.)
When you look up a word in the dictionary, make sure you find the
following information: pronunciation, its meaning in the context,
examples, and collocation.
Consolidate what you’ve just learned by making a few sentences
of your own or by finishing the exercises provided.
Pay special attention to any notes attached – differences between
AmE & BrE, usage notes, etc.
If possible, try to extend your knowledge of the word – other major
meanings, grammar notes, synonyms/antonyms, reflections, etc.
Let’s take
“suggest” as an
example!
Everything about him suggested a carefully
dressed authority.
Others Word origin, phrase bank, Others Smart thesaurus with all the
examples bank synonyms and examples
Language activator with listed
synonyms listed under
different contexts
Do you have any
questions?