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Yatong Zhang
WRA 110
Katie Manthey
Mar. 10, 2014
The Electronic Dictionary
For most students who studied abroad, they are familiar with a miraculous
technology—electronic dictionary. Electronic dictionary is a dictionary whose data exists in
digital form and can be accessed through a number of different media, and also is an electronic
reference resource that contains a library of words and their meanings, spellings, and
etymologies. It’s just like a personal digital assistant. It’s really amazing, because electronic
dictionaries formed as apps, handheld devices, or on Internet, but it contains almost a pound of
paper dictionaries’ values and other functions which helpful on study. It became popular from 30
years ago.
The earliest electronic dictionary in China was coming out around end of 1980s (Electronic
Dictionary History). In the early days, the electronic dictionary could only do translation and
calculation. It had a very small screen because designer created the display screen and keyboard
together. Also, the electronic dictionary could only do some easy literal translations and the data
couldn’t be updated. With the development of technology, the electronic dictionary has
progressed by leaps and bounds. Right now, the electronic dictionary is represented in lots of
different forms, and it has more and more functions inside. Also, it contains lots of knowledge
from different paper dictionaries which gives people more data bases. Recently, electronic
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dictionaries are one kind of useful tool for students or people who want to learn a different
language (Electronic Dictionary).
As time goes on, humans continue to grow and develop. An increasing number of people
would like to learn a different language. The electronic dictionary is a good friend for them,
because it contains a huge data base with lot of languages, and it has a small size which is easier
to take everywhere. The electronic dictionary has a huge consumer group. According to the
Electronic Translation Dictionary from Wisegeek, at first, the biggest consumer group is the
students. In lots of countries, they either recommend or require their students to learn a second
language in their education. In my experience, in those countries whose first language is not
English, they require their students to take English class at school. In America, they require their
students to take Spanish or French classes in the school. As an International student, I had to take
a second language test to get in school in America. Even in China, students need to pass the
English test to get degree from university. All in all, students need to study a second language,
then which means they must need an electronic dictionary, because it’s easy to take and help
them to learn.
Secondly, another common consumer group is the businessperson. Lots of businesspersons
want their businesses to move towards internationalization. However, the precondition for them
is to know at least two different languages. Otherwise, how can you exchange and cooperate with
other countries’ companies? For an adult who got out from school a long time, it is not that easy
to learn another language. They only can learn by themselves. At that time, the electronic
dictionary is the best thing for them to use. If they need go to another country, but only know a
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little about the language, they don’t need to be worried since they have an electronic dictionary,
because they can do the translation as soon as possible from the electronic dictionary. Overall,
the electronic dictionary is not only useful for young people, but also useful for those adults who
want to learn another language.
My father is an electronic dictionary user. He works in Geology which is an international
subject. He told me that he started learning English when he started working, because he never
thought English was very important, when he was young. During the time that he started learning
English, the electronic dictionary was not coming out yet, so the only tool that he could use to
learn English is a dictionary book. He complained to me the dictionary book was very heavy for
carrying. Also, there were lots of editions of dictionary, so he needed to buy lots of books to
learn English. It was a tough time to learn it. With the popularization of electronic dictionaries,
he felt that learning another language was not that hard anymore. In fact, the electronic
dictionary takes convenience to people who want to learn another language, especially for the
adults and students who are like me.
I love my electronic dictionary which is a pink little device, because it not only helps me to
learn English, but also takes lots of convenience for my study. In my memories, I started using
electronic dictionary when I was in elementary school. In China, students are required take
English class from 3rd grade. As everyone knows, it’s hard to learn a language which is really
different from people’s first language. In China, there are not too many people my parents’ age
who know English very well, so my mother thought she couldn’t give me any help on the study
of English, and then she decided to buy an electronic dictionary for me. Actually, I even thought
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about giving up on my English before I had the electronic dictionary, because it’s really hard for
me to pronounce. The electronic dictionary not only can help me with the pronunciation, but also
can set up a learning program for myself which I can put the words that I have a hard time to
remember and I can study them every day until I memorize them.
I still remember that when I first came to America and studied in high school, even our
school allowed us to use the electronic dictionary during test. I asked my teacher, whether she
was afraid that International students would use the electronic device to cheat. She told me that
because we were from other countries, it’s hard for us to learn everything in a different language,
so she thought that will help us to feel comfortable during the test. However, she said in America,
teachers always would love to give students hundred percent trust, because cheating would not
help teacher to know which kind of problem the students had. Nowadays, the electronic
dictionary has lots of functions, such as notepads, learning programs, calculators, and games. It
can help us with more things than just studying. It’s just like a personal digital assistant. When I
feel that I don’t want to study right now, I can play some games which are about spelling English
words on my electronic dictionary. Sometimes the electronic dictionary just likes a teacher who
can teach me anytime and anywhere, but sometimes it’s like a friend with me every day. It helps
me to learn English and it is lots of fun. The electronic dictionary affects me a lot in my life. It
helps me to learn English and other languages which I am interested in. Right now, I would like
to use my phone to be the electronic dictionary. I just need to download an app, and it’s easy for
me to take anywhere.
In view of the development of modem science, people’s needs change accordingly. To learn
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more than two languages is the essential trend of development. The electronic dictionary is the
best tool to learn another language. It contains more than one kind of dictionary books which
gives people more information. I am really thankful for the person who designed the electronic
dictionary, because it gives lots of advantage for students. As far as I am concerned, every
international student should have one electronic dictionary, because it helps them to learn another
language, and gives them a fun time during learning.
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Work Cited
Liden, Daniel, and Jenn Walker. "What Is an Electronic Dictionary?" WiseGeek. Conjecture, 26
Mar. 2014. Web. 01 Apr. 2014
"Electronic Translation Dictionary." WiseGEEK. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014
Chen, Yuzhen, 'Dictionary use and EFL learning: a contrastive study of pocket electronic
dictionaries and paper dictionaries', in International Journal of Lexicography23 (3),
2010:275-306
"Electronic Dictionary History" Tianya, N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014
"Electronic Dictionary" BaiduBaike, N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014