The Role of Bilingualised Learner＇s Dictionary in Vocabulary Learning of Chinese College Students as non-English Majors

According to Cowie(2002), choosing which type of dictionary depends on"several factors, including the year of study, the level of linguistic proficiency of the users, and the nature of the study activity"(p. 195). After comparing the features of monolingual and bilingual learner's dictionaries, and examining the definitions and examples of three entry words(‘owe',‘deadlock'and‘pertinent') in six popular learner's dictionaries in China, we make a tentative conclusion that bilingualised dictionary is the better choice in vocabulary learning of Chinese college students as non-English majors. Some further investigations have to be conducted about the status quo of dictionary use among Chinese college students as non-English majors and their vocabulary learning strategies.

Analyzing verbs＇ definitions in learner＇s dictionaries based on the schema theory

The synthetic defining style, a predominant way used to define verbs in many dictionaries, is the main factor that makes dictionary definitions vague and incomplete. The present paper argues that instead of the synthetic defining mode, an analytical meaning-explaining way should be used in dictionaries designed for SLA learners. The analytical meanings of verbs are viewed as mini-narratives and form event schemata comprised of three sub-schemata, namely, participant schema, action schema and scenario schema. The three sub-schemata should be clearly fore-grounded in verbs＇ definitions in learners＇ dictionaries.

Presenting Knowledge System of International Trade Terms in Business English Learners＇ Dictionaries

Dictionaries should present business encyclopedic knowledge as well as business linguistic knowledge. This paper, taking Incoterms for international trade as an example （with ＂CIF＂ as the case for analysis）, introduces 7 types of dictionary structures （overall structure, frame stzucture/megastrncture, macrostructure, microstzucture, distribution structure, cross-reference stzucture/mediostrncture and access structure）, summarizes the knowledge system of international trade terms （consisting of ＂international trade＂, ＂sets of rules of international trade terms＂, ＂Incoterms 2010＂, and ＂CIF＂）, and illustrates the methods of systematically presenting the knowledge system of international trade terms through dictionary structures in an English-English-Chinese bilingualized business English learners＇ dictionary with Oxford Business English Dictionary for Learners of English （New Edition） as a reference. Such presentation is intended for enhancing business English learners as dictionary users to grasp the knowledge of international trade terms as a whole.

Scaffolding Information of Learner’s Dictionaries for L2 Writing: A User Perspective

As a major resource and tool of language learning, learner’s dictionaries have provided sufficient information forL2 writing, which serves as a good guide of peer feedback. Hence, learner’s dictionaries are an indispensable partof scaffolding in the L2 writing feedback system. However, the effects of dictionary use in L2 writing have longbeen ignored either in L2 writing pedagogy or in learner lexicography. By applying the concept of “scaffolding” topeer feedback as the theoretical framework, this study first clarifies three distinct types of scaffolding informationpresented in current English learner’s dictionaries, and then makes an investigation into EFL learners’ perceptionand practical use of scaffolding information in their English writing. Results show that most EFL learners havepositive attitudes towards scaffolding information and its role in motivating effective feedback in English writing.But their practical use of such information is not satisfactory owing to their inadequate skills and knowledge ofdictionary use. This reflects a high demand of a dictionary use course in universities, which will help to raise EFLlearners’ dictionary use efficiency as well as improve English teachers’ lexicographical expertise in English writingpedagogy.

A Study of the Middle Construction in English with Special Reference to Learner's Dictionaries

Although the middle construction has attracted significant attention from syntacticians, its identity still remains controversial and it is not treated as a separate grammatical category in any English learner＇s dictionary. This article, based on the data collected from three English learner＇s dictionaries, investigates the middle construction in terms of its syntactic and semantic properties and the constraints on its use. It shows that the three learner＇s dictionaries treat the middle construction in inconsistent and problematic manners. The middle use of a verb is not distinguished from either transitive verbs with an implicit object or intransitive verbs, which may hinder English learners＇ acquisition of the construction. The article proposes that middle verbs should be treated as a separate subcategory of verbs on a par with transitive and intransitive verbs so that learners will become more aware of them and learn to use them correctly.

The Effectiveness of the Bilingualized Dictionary:A Psycholinguistic Point of View

通过对EFL学习者的心理表征与理解过程的分析,文章对四类英语学习词典中的释义部分和例证的处理方式进行了对比。结论是释义的双解处理方式有助于EFL学习者建立词名和概念之间的联系,从而充分理解词义;例证的双语处理方式有助于EFL学习者理解具体上下文中的词义变化以及对常用搭配、习语等作为词块进行储存,从而提高了学习效率。因此,双解本综合了四类词典在这两方面的优势,比其他三类词典更适合EFL学习者使用。