Innovation in Language Learning

Since their first compilation dictionaries had become important tools for the speakers of any language. Monolingual, bilingual dictionaries, dictionaries for specific purposes like synonyms or technical ones have been edited in order to help people in the challenge of using a language appropriately. In the recent decades, ICT and computer technology in collaboration with some branches of Applied Linguistics such as Corpus Linguistics have changed the habit of many people and also influenced the criteria in which dictionaries are currently compiled and published. Since the predominance of paper dictionaries few years ago, the market demand has experienced a fast shift towards digital editions on CD or DVD devices. Still, the creation of online dictionaries is currently leading to another major change avoiding any physical device guaranteeing a permanent update in terms of entries and examples.

After a brief preliminary review of the major evolution in the field of lexicography during the last century, the study examines the use and perception of online dictionaries in Italy taking advantage of a survey administered to Italian L2 speakers of English of different ages. The study highlights a number of innovative trends and approaches to the use of linguistic resources. Above all, the results show how more and more users understand the need of a tool which alongside with adequate definitions also reports some examples of language in use. Based on the data emerged from this research, some possible implications are provided in order to frame this study in the context of a wider research.

Particular emphasis is also placed on the role language corpora in the development of new online digital resources for a permanent and reliable update of linguistic data. This paper may also stimulate further research on this evolving topic.