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Online Corpus-based
Learner Dictionary
Introduction:
The best online learner dictionaries include:
(1) a corpus-based compilation of words;
(2) word frequency data;
(3) collocation guides;
(4) authentic examples of how words are used; and
(5) topical vocabulary from different disciplines.
Dictionaries are organized alphabetically, so start with
the first letter of the word that you are trying to find.
'Alliteration' is going to be in the first section of the
dictionary under 'a'.
There will be lots of entries for each letter of the alphabet,
so use the guide word at the top of the page to help you.
The guide word tells you what the first or last word on
that page of the dictionary is.
You will need to look at the second letter of the word,
and then the third, and so on, in order to find it.
It takes a little practice to find words quickly.
You may need to scan several pages of the dictionary
in order to find the word that you need. Scanning is a
way of reading quickly to find the information that you
need. The more you practice, the better you will get
at finding words fast.
When you find your word, there may be an abbreviation
next to it. Perhaps vb., n., or adj. The introduction to
your dictionary will tell you what they each mean
because every dictionary is different, but these are
the most common and may indicate that your word
is a verb, a noun, or an adjective.
Some words have multiple meanings.
These will usually be numbered, and may have an
example of the way that the word can be used in
a sentence.
Some dictionaries may give even more information;
perhaps about the origin and history of a word, or
some of its synonyms (words or phrases which mean
the same, or nearly the same).
Test your knowledge on how to use a dictionary
with this quick quiz.
How a dictionary helps
A good dictionary is not just a list of isolated words
with their meanings or translations. Indeed, it can be
argued that a word in isolation has no definite meaning:
the meaning only becomes apparent when the word is
placed in context.
The job of the dictionary is to place a word in each of
its possible contexts and explain its meaning in each case.
In order to do this successfully, the dictionary needs to
be based on the analysis of words in real text and
communication.
A dictionary can be used to look up the meaning
of a word.
You can also use a dictionary to check the spelling
Dictionaries may also give other information about
words, such as word type and word origin.
CD ROM Dictionary:
The CD-ROM offers :
pronunciation guides (usually for both British and American
language)
electronic writing tools
quick find (clicking on a word in a text gives its definition)
picture dictionaries (mostly in color)
extra grammar and vocabulary exercises (to enhance learning)
vocabulary notes (an electronic version of a vocabulary diary)
wildcard functions (looking up words without knowing
their exact spelling).
1-Corpus-based dictionaries
Thus, definitions for a word are sequenced based on
their frequency of use, and example sentences in
corpus-based dictionaries are authentic.
This sequencing makes it easy for learners of English
to focus first on frequent words and meanings that will
give them the most mileage.
2-Word frequency
Knowing whether a word is used a lot ) or a little in
overall written and spoken discourse is very helpful
information to English learners; that makes
corpus-based dictionaries a must for the
ESL/EFL classroom.
3-Collocations
With the use of corpora, lexicographers identify
collocations (word combinations that normally
go together) and incorporate them into learner dictionaries.
4-Authentic examples
For EFL learners another advantage of learner
dictionaries over their general-use counterparts
is the abundance of example sentences.
In addition to definitions, learner dictionaries
include “authentic examples to illustrate the
use of words in context”.
5-Topical vocabulary
Another useful element corpus-based learner
dictionaries offer for vocabulary learning is the
way they present topical vocabulary by
indicating how the words relate semantically to
different categories.
For example, in the LDCE, students can see that the word
vocabulary belongs to the two topical groups “Linguistics” and
Language.
Other dictionaries provide synonyms and semantic
webs to indicate different word usages and to illustrate
how a single word relates to different concepts.
8-Teaching Vocabulary communicatively.
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