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On Pictorial Illustrations of Verbs in English-Chinese Learner’s Dictionaries

Author: JiangYing
Tutor: WeiXiangQing
School: Nanjing University
Course: English Language and Literature
Keywords: Dictionary illustration English verbs Bilingual Learning Dictionaries
CLC: H316
Type: Master's thesis
Year: 2011
Downloads: 82
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Abstract

In the dictionary, illustrations can play clarify meaning, word usage tips, landscaping dictionary pages and other features. Codification of contemporary European and American countries learning English monolingual dictionaries mostly contains a number of ingenious, beautifully designed illustrations for independent learning vocabulary dictionary users play an active supporting role. In comparison, our bilingual dictionaries traditionally focused on learning through lexical entries corresponding to the words and sentences to provide the selection to explain the meanings of words, few illustrations included. However, in some cases, not only the text concise, accurate representation of lexical semantics, with the use of illustrations is more effective interpretation. This study focuses on the design of the verb illustrations, and its reasons are as follows: First, with respect to the noun, the verb is more abstract, requiring dictionaries provide richer contextual information; Second, nearly always Discriminating verb in English One of the difficulties of learning, while the existing bilingual dictionary deal in this regard is still not perfect; Thirdly, the current research on the vast majority of illustrations lexicography involves only nouns illustrations, and for other parts of speech illustration of deficiencies. This study aimed to investigate the bilingual learning dictionary contains illustrations, especially the necessity verb illustrations, and according to the results of theoretical and empirical research design verb illustrations made a few basic principles. This study first proposed by RE Mayer \Dictionary contains illustrations to help in better understanding the user dictionary text, improve learning outcomes, and demonstrates the CTML apply theory in learning the feasibility of lexicography. Second, for the translation of the verb meaning in a bilingual dictionary \The authors suggest, should be presented in the illustrations relevant context information are: the movement path (path), mode (manner) and why (cause) and so on. In addition, the study also summarizes the verb illustrations in a bilingual dictionary played three basic functions: 1) a description and emphasize the verb semantic components; 2) comparison and enumerate verb (more) semantic component; 3) combined Caption semantic components described in the syntactic structure in the foreground or background of technology. In addition to discussion on the theoretical level, the present study also adopted the vocabulary test, questionnaires and interviews to obtain empirical studies related to the research data, the results of the study played a supporting role. This study selected a university in Nanjing 121 intermediate learners as experimental objects vocabulary tests and questionnaires. The main purpose of the test vocabulary test bilingual dictionary illustration for the verb verb learning effect. Test results show that the learners understand the verb meaning illustration, master verb usage has a positive effect. Main survey questionnaire in English learners dictionary habits and experience, they learn the views of English verbs, as well as dictionary illustrations (especially verb illustration) needs and expectations. After completion of the survey questionnaire, the authors interviewed a random part of the survey, access to the vocabulary tests and questionnaires for feedback. Based on the results of theoretical discussion and empirical research data, the authors designed a bilingual dictionary verb form and content of illustrations put forward the following suggestions. In the formal aspects: 1) the verb in the dictionary illustrations should adopt Photos, illustrations with captions and other illustrations illustration scene types to meet a variety of learning outcomes. 2) the verb in the dictionary illustrations corresponding entry should be arranged in the vicinity, not too far apart in order to reduce the learner's cognitive load. 3) dictionary illustration color is not the most important factor in the design of lexicographers do not blindly pursue illustration when full-color illustrations. In terms of content: a) verb dictionary illustrations should exhibit their representatives macro events (Macro-event). Lexical representation of the verb is the event conceptualization, event verb unit presents contextual information to help conduct an overall grasp of verbs. 2) if necessary, make appropriate simplified illustration of the verb, to exclude irrelevant information. Although depicted in the illustrations can improve some interesting details about the learner's interest, but this may undermine the coherence of the text and drawings, should be avoided. 3) You can add the verb illustrations prompt, such as lines, arrows, etc., in order to emphasize important semantic component, but also for synonyms to discriminate. In this study, theoretical discussion and empirical research shows illustrations of verbs role in promoting learning, and put forward the basic design principles illustrated dictionary verb, has a certain theoretical value of innovation and practical significance of lexicography.

On Pictorial Illustrations of Verbs in English-Chinese Learner’s Dictionaries

Abstract

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