MULTIPLICATION OF DICTIONARY USES IN THE AGE OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

Dictionaries have become a ubiquitous tool in academia, extending beyond their common and essential purposes of checking spelling and meanings. This paper investigated the usage of dictionaries by 107 English learners in the Saudi context during their university studies, based on data collected from an opinion poll. Findings showed that learners use electronic and paper-based dictionaries for limited purposes. Besides surveying the dictionary type (online and paper-based), the study argues for a broader approach on their usage beyond checking spelling and meaning. The study considers dictionaries as valuable resources that facilitate second language learning by developing a multitude of skills, including spelling, vocabulary, grammatical usage, pronunciation, and semantic features of the target language (e.g., synonyms, antonyms, polysemy, and collocations). The study recommends that a dictionary should be used not just as a supplementary tool but as essential source for English language programmes, with dictionary-based tasks incorporated across the curriculum to promote sustainable language education.