Aspects of using dictionaries in the process of academic English teaching and acquisition

Abstract

In the article, the linguistic characteristics of academic English are considered. The vocabulary and genres of academic English are addressed. The types of dictionaries currently available to university students are defined. It is established that academic language is linguistically diverse across discourses, genres, and disciplines. The variations in academic language demand a range of linguistic skills from students. Learners therefore need access to language tools, notably dictionaries, in their studies. The analysis of the respective dictionaries demonstrates that none of them is suitable for academic English acquisition. They are too comprehensive in coverage, contain linguistically demanding definitions and offer little encoding information. A need for dictionaries that would meet the students’ demands is defined.