International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation

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The Effect of Monolingual and Bilingual Dictionary on the Foreign Language Learners' Acquisition

Received: 08 September 2019    Accepted: 25 September 2019    Published: 11 October 2019
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Abstract

Dictionaries have traditionally been a widely used tool by foreign and second language learners. In spite of the rejection of using dictionaries in classroom by some teachers, recent studies have showed that dictionaries play a vital role in language learning and teaching. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of both monolingual and bilingual dictionaries on the foreign language learners' awareness and acquisition. The study seeks to investigate that monolingual dictionaries, unlike bilingual dictionaries, would promote and assist learners' acquisition. Although bilingual dictionaries are universally preferred by learners, teachers’ duty here is to encourage students to consult monolingual dictionaries during classroom since they often expose to the foreign language which is the end. Thus, the research will highlight the pros and cons of both monolingual and bilingual dictionaries. It will focus on the teachers' role which is crucial on not only guiding learners how to use dictionaries, when and which type but also allocating time during classroom to encourage students to consult the dictionary in order to be familiar with this tool. Finally, the striking findings are both dictionaries have positives and negatives but the good teacher can guide his/her students to consult the appropriate one in the specific time and a suitable task in classroom. Dictionaries are not always the perfect tool used by students and teachers but there are some cases and situations teachers should take in consideration when they deal with dictionaries.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijalt.20190504.11
Published in International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation (Volume 5, Issue 4, December 2019)
Page(s) 55-57
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Monolingual Dictionaries, Bilingual Dictionaries, Learners' Acquisition, Foreign Language Learners

References
[1] Hayati, A. M. & Pour-Mohammadi, M. (2005). A comparative study of using bilingual and monolingual dictionaries in reading comprehension of intermediate EFL students. The reading Matrix, 5 (2), 61-66.
[2] Holi Ali, H. I. (2012). Monolingual dictionary use in an EFL context. English language teaching, 5 (7), 2-7.
[3] Marmol, G. & Sanchez-Lafuente, A. (2013). The bilingual dictionary and foreign language learning: facts and opinions. Porta Linguarum, 20, 89-101.
[4] Al-Sayed, A. & Siddiek, A. (2013). Monolingual and bilingual dictionaries as effective tools of the management of English language education. Theory and practice in language studies, 3 (10), 1744-1755.
[5] Lew, R. & Adamska-Salaciak, A. (2015). A case for bilingual learners’ dictionaries. ELTJournal, 69 (1), 47-57.
[6] Thornbury, S. (2002). How to teach vocabulary. Harlow: Longman.
[7] Hayati, M. & Fattahzadeh, A. (2006). The effect of monolingual and bilingual dictionaries on vocabulary recall and retention of EFL learners. An International Online Journal, 6 (2), 15-134.
[8] Nation, I. S. P. (2013). Learning vocabulary in another language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
[9] Shamshirian, M. (2015). Assessing the effect of utilizing monolingual and bilingual dictionaries on EFL learners' vocabulary. Language in India, 15 (7), 175-188.
[10] Baxter, J. (1980). The dictionary and vocabulary behavior: A single word or a handful? TESOL Quarterly 14 (3): 325-336.
[11] Wingate, U. (2002). The effectiveness of different learner dictionaries. An investigation into the use of dictionaries for reading comprehension by intermediate learners of German. Lexicographica Series Maior: Tübingen Niemeyer.
[12] Laufer, B. & Levitzky-Aviad, T. (2006). Examining the effectiveness of bilingual dictionaries plus a dictionary for production in a foreign language. International of Lexicography, 190 (2), 135-155.
[13] Schmidtt, N. & McCarthy, M. (1997). Vocabulary: description, acquisition, pedagogy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Author Information
  • Department of English, University of Kufa, Najaf, Iraq

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  • APA Style

    Nada Mohsin Aboghunaim. (2019). The Effect of Monolingual and Bilingual Dictionary on the Foreign Language Learners' Acquisition. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation, 5(4), 55-57. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20190504.11

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    Nada Mohsin Aboghunaim. The Effect of Monolingual and Bilingual Dictionary on the Foreign Language Learners' Acquisition. Int. J. Appl. Linguist. Transl. 2019, 5(4), 55-57. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20190504.11

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    AMA Style

    Nada Mohsin Aboghunaim. The Effect of Monolingual and Bilingual Dictionary on the Foreign Language Learners' Acquisition. Int J Appl Linguist Transl. 2019;5(4):55-57. doi: 10.11648/j.ijalt.20190504.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijalt.20190504.11,
      author = {Nada Mohsin Aboghunaim},
      title = {The Effect of Monolingual and Bilingual Dictionary on the Foreign Language Learners' Acquisition},
      journal = {International Journal of Applied Linguistics and Translation},
      volume = {5},
      number = {4},
      pages = {55-57},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijalt.20190504.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijalt.20190504.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijalt.20190504.11},
      abstract = {Dictionaries have traditionally been a widely used tool by foreign and second language learners. In spite of the rejection of using dictionaries in classroom by some teachers, recent studies have showed that dictionaries play a vital role in language learning and teaching. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of both monolingual and bilingual dictionaries on the foreign language learners' awareness and acquisition. The study seeks to investigate that monolingual dictionaries, unlike bilingual dictionaries, would promote and assist learners' acquisition. Although bilingual dictionaries are universally preferred by learners, teachers’ duty here is to encourage students to consult monolingual dictionaries during classroom since they often expose to the foreign language which is the end. Thus, the research will highlight the pros and cons of both monolingual and bilingual dictionaries. It will focus on the teachers' role which is crucial on not only guiding learners how to use dictionaries, when and which type but also allocating time during classroom to encourage students to consult the dictionary in order to be familiar with this tool. Finally, the striking findings are both dictionaries have positives and negatives but the good teacher can guide his/her students to consult the appropriate one in the specific time and a suitable task in classroom. Dictionaries are not always the perfect tool used by students and teachers but there are some cases and situations teachers should take in consideration when they deal with dictionaries.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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