People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

viii 
 
List of Abbreviations 
 
 
L1: First Language  
L2: Foreign or Second Language 
EFL: English as a Foreign Language 
MLD: Monolingual Dictionary 
BLD: Bilingual Dictionary 
PD: Printed Dictionary 
CD: CD-ROM Dictionary 
PED: Portable Electronic Dictionary 
ED: Electronic Dictionary 
CALD: 
Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
 
MS: Monitoring Software 
SAT: Scholastic Aptitude Test 
GRE: Graduate Records Examinations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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ix 
 
Table of Contents 
Dedication ....................................................................................................................... i 
Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... ii 
Abstract ......................................................................................................................... iii 
List of Tables ................................................................................................................. v 
List of Figures ............................................................................................................... vi 
List of Abbreviations .................................................................................................. viii 
General Introduction ................................................................................................... 1 
Chapter One: Reading, Vocabulary, and Dictionaries .......................................... 15 
Introduction .............................................................................................................. 16 
1.1. What is Reading Comprehension? .................................................................... 16 
1.2. The Nature of Reading Comprehension ........................................................... 17 
1.3. The Role of Vocabulary in Reading Comprehension ....................................... 19 
1.4. Dictionaries and Foreign Language Reading Comprehension ......................... 22 
1.4.1. The Development of English Monolingual Learners’ Dictionaries ........... 22 
1.4.2. Controversy over Using Dictionaries in Language Learning .................... 26 
1.4.3. Debates on What Type of Dictionary to Use in L2 Learning .................... 32 
Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 39 
Chapter Two: Dictionary Use Research .................................................................. 40 
Introduction .............................................................................................................. 41 
2.1. The Nature of Dictionary Design and Use ........................................................ 41 
2.2. The Process of Dictionary Use ......................................................................... 42 
2.3. Effective Dictionary Use .................................................................................. 44 
2.4. Variety of Dictionary Use Topics ..................................................................... 48 

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2.5. Research on General Dictionary Use ................................................................ 50 
2.5.1. Studies on Printed Dictionary Use ............................................................. 50 
2.5.2. Studies on Portable Electronic Dictionary Use .......................................... 53 
2.6. Dictionary Use and Reading Comprehension ................................................... 56 
Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 62 
Chapter Three: Electronic Dictionary Use ............................................................. 63 
Introduction .............................................................................................................. 64 
3.1. What is an Electronic Dictionary? .................................................................... 64 
3.2. Typology of Electronic Dictionaries ................................................................. 66 
3.3. Electronic Dictionaries in Language Learning ................................................. 69 
3.4. English Learners’ Dictionaries on CD-ROM ................................................... 73 
3.5. Computerized Dictionary Use .......................................................................... 75 
3.6. Electronic versus Printed Dictionary Use ......................................................... 77 
Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 83 
Chapter Four: Research Methodology and Procedures ........................................ 85 
Introduction .............................................................................................................. 86 
4.1. Participants ........................................................................................................ 86 
4.2. Research Design ............................................................................................... 87 
4.3. Instruments and Data Collection Methods ........................................................ 91 
4.3.1. Reading Tests from the TOEFL PBT ......................................................... 91 
4.3.2. Vocabulary Tests ........................................................................................ 95 
4.3.3. Tests Validity ............................................................................................. 96 
4.3.4. Dictionaries ................................................................................................ 96 
4.3.5. Monitoring Software ................................................................................ 100 
4.3.6. Lookup History-List in CD-ROM Dictionary .......................................... 106 

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