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The Use of PED in English Learning

  [key words] electronic dictionary ped  english learning

  [abstract] the rapid development of electronics has given birth to a variety of palm-top electronic dictionaries (ped for short) which have come into popularity among english learners. ped, with its multiple functions, has brought great convenience and exerted noticeable influence on english learning.  however, the improper use of ped also produces negative effects. beginning with a discussion about the types and basic functions of ped, this paper examines its current use among english learners and mainly probes into how to use ped correctly and effectively to facilitate english learning. ped, with its limitations and drawbacks, could be of great help to english learning if handled appropriately.

  1. introduction

  since the late 1980s, the development of the electronic dictionary has become increasingly noticeable in china. different types of electronic dictionaries, such as the compact disc dictionary, the online dictionary, the network dictionary and the palm-top electronic dictionary (ped for short) pour into market one after another. as a product of modern educational technology, ped has gained growing popularity since its advent. it is well received by english learners for its great convenience, quick retrieval and diverse functions. more and more students use ped, and some students have come to cherish it as an indispensable tool for english learning. the wide use of ped has exerted noticeable influence on language learning, which draws extensive attention. beginning with a discussion about the types and basic functions of ped, this paper expatiated upon its current use among english learners and then mainly discusses how to use ped appropriately and effectively to facilitate english learning. ped could be of great help to english learning if users bring its advantages into full play.

  2. the types, basic functions and influence of ped

  2.1 the types of ped

  there are different criteria in classifying the types of dictionary. according to the number of entries it contains, ped can be classified into three types, that is, the big, the medium and the small one.

  the big ped usually covers a vocabulary of over 300,000. with its big size and great capacity, the big ped is expensive and has multiple functions. it provides a detailed and comprehensive treatment for its headwords. there are convenient accesses to enquiry and intellectual processing as well. however the variety of the big ped is limited [1].

  the medium ped has a vocabulary ranging from 200,000 to 300,000. characteristic of a relatively big size and high price, the medium ped also has some auxiliary functions. according to the difference of functions, it could be divided into three grades, namely, the top, the medium as well as the low grade.

  the small ped provides a vocabulary between 100,000 and 200,000. this type of ped is small in size, delicate in appearance, and low in price, with practical and easy-to-operate functions. therefore the small ped has attracted a great number of users. it is the most popular one among these three types of ped.

  2.2 the functions of ped

  compared with the paper dictionary, ped has some distinctive and incomparable functions. though ped of different types and brands have diverse functions, generally speaking, most of them share the following common features.

  2.2.1 information retrieval

  this is the basic and the most important function, without which, ped, (actually any dictionary) would become useless. thanks to the development of technology, users can learn some knowledge about vocabulary simply by inputting some words at the retrieval entry. ped provides a lot of information about words, including pronunciation, word class, meaning, usage, register, grammar, examples and etymology, etc.

  2.2.2 information display

  ped can present the enquired information on the screen instantly. users can get what they want to know about a word, a phrase or an expression in a second. this function serves as a link between the user and the ped.

  2.2.3 pronunciation function

  it is a function that the paper dictionary does not possess. users can learn how to pronounce a word correctly with the aid of ped. this function is especially useful for beginners. users can also record their own pronunciation and then compare it with the correct one installed in ped, thus helping improve their pronunciation.

  2.2.4 auxiliary functions

  in addition to the fundamental functions, ped also provides some auxiliary devices. for example, many users can store some information in their ped. they can keep some newly learned words in the notebook in ped and review them regularly. some peds provide vocabulary exercise, which is useful for english learners. furthermore, most peds have the downloading function, through which users can get access to the abundant information on the internet. and they can also play games and get some entertainment with ped. in short, ped enjoy many superior functions that cannot be found in the traditional paper dictionary.

  2.3 the advantages and disadvantages of ped

  as a product of modern educational technology, ped provides great convenience to english learners. it is becoming more and more popular among users for its incomparable advantages. however, because of the limitations of technology, there are also some undeniable disadvantages.

  2.3.1 the advantages of ped

  the most remarkable advantage of ped is its quick retrieval and high efficiency. users can obtain the needed information about words in a blink of eyes. compared with the traditional paper dictionary, ped can save a lot of time and effort. owing to its small size and light weight, ped can be carried from one place to another and can be used at any time and in any place. additionally, ped is usually based on the traditional paper dictionary which has a solid foundation of lexicography. due to the large capacity, new vocabulary can be introduced into ped quickly. theoretically speaking, it has an unlimited and infinite capacity [2]140. moreover, ped provides lots of auxiliary functions. many peds have download function and can be upgraded regularly. users could amuse themselves by listening to music or playing games when they are tired. to sum up, there are superior advantages of ped with which the paper dictionary could not compare. it offers information, convenience, efficiency as well as entertainment.

  2.3.2 the disadvantages of ped

  though ped provides great convenience to english learners, its negative effects have also become more and more visible. most ped makers are not professionals but computer technicians without lexicographical knowledge. some dictionaries declare that they cover hundreds of thousands of vocabularies, but actually they are the total sum of the several paper dictionaries that the ped contains. many words, phrases and idioms overlap. besides, the vocabulary information some peds provide is too limited. for example, some peds only give brief explanation of word meaning without examples; sometimes senses for headwords are ordered in an unscientific way. furthermore, there are too many functions unrelated to language learning which may hinder rather than help. in addition, because of the small screen, ped can only show three to four lines of information one time. to find the necessary information, users have to downpage several times. consequently, it may be a waste of time to use ped, especially when polysemic words are consulted. more importantly, frequent use of ped may breed over-dependence on dictionary. students tend to overuse peds, therefore they would refer to it whenever they come across a new word without employing other strategies of vocabulary learning like contextual guessing. in brief, ped has its limitations and drawbacks, which might exert negative influence on users [2]138-139.

  3. the current use of ped among college students

  it is a undeniable fact that ped has gained great popularity among college and university students. an investigation on 251 non-english majors of shanghai university shows that the ed owners are about 173, among which 134 students have ped. namely, 57% students possess ped. while meeting new words in learning, 58% students would choose ped. 62% use ped when they meet words that they do not know how to pronounce. while reading or having classes, students use ped most frequently [3] 174-175. the writer of this paper has also done a survey on the current use of ped among english majors, and found that among 32 students, 19 have ped. 10 students plan to buy one, while 3 students do not intend to. moreover, a majority, about 73% students regard it as an indispensable tool in english learning. they think that it is convenient, time-saving and labor-saving to look up new words in ped when they are reading, translating or writing.

  many investigations show that among all types of dictionaries, ped is also the one used most frequently. lots of students become over- dependent on ped. when encountering new words, they would refer to it without considering whether it is necessary or not. yet the words that have been consulted would be forgotten a moment later, so they have to look up them again. moreover, they are content to learn a little about the new words [3]179-181. for instance, many students just look at the meaning of a word, ignoring other relevant information about usage, grammar or collocation. so they cannot master a word as a whole. in short, popular as it is, ped also brings about many problems. therefore, it is of vital importance to probe into the appropriate use of ped. that is what the next session of the paper is going to discuss.

  4. the use of ped in english learning

  as mentioned above, ped has great impact on english learning, so it is necessary and important to learn how to use it appropriately and effectively to facilitate the learning process. a good user should know at least three points as follows:

  4.1   how to choose a proper ped

  4.1.1 to know about the needs

  on purchase of ped, a user should first have a clear idea about his needs and then choose a type of ped according to his english proficiency. for a non-english major, it is suitable to choose a ped with a relatively small vocabulary and clear and concise definition. as far as an english major is concerned, it is necessary to choose a ped with a large vocabulary and detailed and exact definition [4].

  4.1.2 to take into consideration the paper dictionaries installed in ped

  it is necessary to pay much attention to the authority of paper dictionaries installed in ped upon dictionary purchase. at present, the installed paper dictionaries such as oxford english dictionary, collins english dictionary and longman dictionary of contemporary english are well received. besides, the impression and content of the installed dictionaries should also be taken heed of. in addition, the publishing house is also a factor that needs considering.

  4.1.3 to examine the quality of ped

  it is advisable to take a quality paper dictionary when buying a ped. in order to examine the definition, pronunciation, usage, grammar and examples in the ped, buyers need to compare them with those of paper dictionary. a good ped should have detailed explanation about various categories of information such as meaning, grammar, usage, collocation and examples, etc. furthermore, buyers should also take heed whether the ped has recorded the neologism to keep abreast with the development of language.

  4.1.4 to choose a famous brand

  ped is a product of a new industry. the market has been flooded with various peds some of which are good while others are inferior. the quality of some products  by small workshops might not be reliable. with the development of market economy, these small enterprises are doomed to bankruptcy. therefore, it is essential to choose those famous brands so as to guarantee the quality of ped.

  4.2 how to foster a reasonable attitude towards ped

  recent years have seen an increasingly number of ped owners and users. ped plays an important role in english learning. though learners know about some famous ped, they have little and equivocal knowledge about their functions, features and target users. most users only judge ped by its convenience and functions, without considering other criteria such as informativeness, scientificness and its coverage [5]. they have not made full use of the information that ped provides. consequently, teachers ought to instruct students to foster a reasonable attitude towards ped and use it appropriately and correctly.

  with its advantages of small size, large capacity and easy use, ped becomes very popular among students, but at the same time, its negative influence has also come to be felt. the compilers might not work seriously and scientifically. moreover, because of the limitations of the screen size, the information showed at one time is limited. consequently, users should have a thorough understanding about the nature of ped. they should acquaint themselves with the merits and demerits of ped and thus develop a right perception about it. they should know not to wordship ped blindly and avoid over-dependence on or overuse of it.

  4.3 how to use ped properly

  the fast development and wide use of ped is definitely true. the efficiency of english learning is closely related to the use of ped. as a result, in order to increase the efficiency of english learning, learners must learn how to use ped appropriately and sensibly.

  4.3.1 to use ped sensibly according to different language activities

  in extensive reading, in order to read smoothly, learners may consult the meaning of new words with the aid of ped. however, it is not suitable for learners to use ped whenever they come across new words. they should first try to guess the meaning of words based on the context, morphology or common sense. to use ped too frequently will interrupt the reading process, slow down the speed and waste a lot of time, which are unfavorable for reading comprehension. in extensive reading, because of the necessity of further understanding the meaning of words, usage and collocation, learners had better use the quality paper dictionary rather than choose ped at any time. in writing and translating, learners can refer to ped for english equivalents, but they should be warned against word-for-word translation. they should know how to distinguish the fine difference between synonyms and discern the delicate shades of meaning. what is more, with the help of download function, users could make use of the rich resources on the internet to broaden their scope of knowledge. in addition, the graded lexicon in ped could be used for exam preparation. the various exercise and vocabulary tests in ped can hopefully get students ready for cet 4 or cet 6.

  4.3.2 to use ped, not to depend on it

  ped can present the enquired information on the screen instantly. users can get what they want to know about a word, a phrase or an expression in a second.  as a result, they could save much time and energy. however, it is necessary to guard against excessive dependence on ped. in order to improve the efficiency of english learning, a useful dictionary is indispensable, but the point is that ped is no more than a tool. it takes time and effort to master a language. diligence and practice is the key to the mastery of a language.

  4.3.3 to use ped, not to abandon the paper dictionary

  the definition and explanation of most peds is concise, the pragmatic meaning, grammar, examples and some other relevant information are quite sketchy. because of the limitations of the screen size, the content of a dictionary entry could not be completely presented at one time. in comparing the different senses of polysemic words, learners would refer to the paper dictionary rather than ped [6]. when it comes to reading, translating or writing, learners should not choose ped only if discrimination of words is necessary.

  all in all, from realistic and progressive perspectives, english learners should use ped to its advantages. in order to give full play to ped, users must incorporate learning contents, strategies and techniques into a whole and always bear in mind that the electronic product is only an assistant. the key to success is hard work and proper use of learning strategies [7].

  5. conclusion

  the unprecedented development and exploitation of ped constitute a great shock and challenge to the paper dictionary. the rapid development of electronics has promoted quick and steady renewal of ped. english learners should select ped properly, and use ped appropriately. it could be of great help to english learning if learners make full use of its advantages and avoid its disadvantages.

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