Reflections on Online Visual Dictionaries: The Case of the Maritime English Visual Dictionary in the Naval Academy of Constanta

Abstract

This paper revolves around the development of an online visual dictionary with a view to improving lexical acquisitions in maritime contexts. Undoubtedly, technological advances in computer technology have led to increased speed in accessing information and processed data; therefore, we deem it appropriate to consider first what online dictionaries may bring to the study of the English vocabulary, that is to facilitate both access to and use of the information contained therein. Indeed, the possibility of automatic processing and research of a term in an index is one of the greatest advantages of electronic dictionaries as compared to their paper format counterparts. Furthermore, the visual support - pictures or illustrations - is essential to language learners since it compensates for the definition alone when purely linguistic means are insufficient to explain a particular word or when they produce too difficult a definition. Taking this context into account, the Maritime English Visual Dictionary was conceived within the Sectorial Plan of Research and Development (PSCD) and its importance is backed up by the lack of such a teaching/learning material on the specialized book markets; therefore, the benefits brought about by the project outcome involve supplementing the traditional methods of teaching/learning maritime English through the production of e-learning teaching aids as well as developing learners' capacity for long-term storage of maritime terminology. The project is based on an html format program and contains the following fields: the English word, its explanation, its translation and the corresponding picture. It is hosted on the Naval Academy platform since it is intended as a useful resource for both classroom use and self study.