| Abstract |
In our software demonstration, we describe a web-based English for Academic Purposes dictionary-cumwriting aid tool, the Louvain EAP Dictionary (LEAD). The dictionary is based on the analysis of c. 900 academic words and phrases in a large corpus of academic texts and EFL learner corpora representing a wide range of L1 populations. The dictionary contains a rich description of non-technical academic words, with particular focus on their phraseology (collocations and recurrent phrases). Its main originality is its customisability: the content is automatically adapted to users’ needs in terms of discipline and mother tongue background. Another key feature of the LEAD is that is makes full use of the capabilities afforded by the electronic medium in terms of multiplicity of access modes (Tarp 2009). The dictionary can be used as both a semasiological dictionary (from lexeme to meaning) and an onomasiological dictionary (from meaning/concept to lexeme) via a list of typical rhetorical or organisational functions in academic discourse (cf. Pecman 2008). It is also a semi-bilingual dictionary (cf. Laufer & Levitzky-Aviad 2006) as users who have selected a particular mother tongue background can search lexical entries via their translations into that language.
The LEAD is designed as an integrated tool where the actual dictionary part is linked up to other language resources and learning tools. It is a hybrid dictionary (cf. Hartman 2005) that includes both a dictionary-cum-corpus and a dictionary-cum-CALL component. As regards direct corpus access, the LEAD innovates by giving access to discipline-specific corpora rather than generic corpora.
While the current version of the tool is restricted to some disciplines and mother tongue backgrounds, its flexible architecture allows for further customisation (other L1 background populations, other disciplines, other languages). |
| BibTex |
@InProceedings{ELX10-018,
author = {Sylviane Granger, Magali Paquot},
title = {The Louvain EAP Dictionary (LEAD)},
pages = {321-326},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 14th EURALEX International Congress},
year = {2010},
month = {jul},
date = {6-10},
address = {Leeuwarden/Ljouwert, The Netherlands},
editor = {Anne Dykstra and Tanneke Schoonheim},
publisher = {Fryske Akademy},
isbn = {978-90-6273-850-3},
} |
