| Abstract |
The emergence of online English dictionaries in the past two decades has not only changed the lookup habit of many people and but also influenced the way dictionaries are compiled and presented. The traditional role played by paper dictionaries has been challenged, as witness the sharp decrease of the sales of the so-called “dead-tree” dictionaries and the steady diminishing in their readership. In consequence, many paper dictionaries have been gathering dust on bookshelves in bookstores, libraries or private studies. The ever-increasing popularity of online dictionaries has even made some alarmists suggest the possible demise of paper dictionaries. However, the future of dictionary-making and that of bilingual lexicography in particular is not as dismal as what people usually think. The lexicographical information presented in online dictionaries may prove to be a bonanza for bilingual lexicographers. This paper attempts to research into the major online English dictionaries that are available today, and their advantages and disadvantages will also be discussed. The scene of online English-Chinese dictionaries will also be investigated, and opportunities presented to English-Chinese dictionary-makers in the digital era will be explored. |
| BibTex |
@InProceedings{ELX12-027,
author = {Yongwei Gao},
title = {Online English Dictionaries: Friend or Foe},
pages = {422--433},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 15th EURALEX International Congress},
year = {2012},
month = {aug},
date = {7-11},
address = {Oslo,Norway},
editor = {Ruth Vatvedt Fjeld and Julie Matilde Torjusen},
publisher = {Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies, University of Oslo},
isbn = {978-82-303-2228-4},
} |
