Use of mobile applications for extending individual vocabulary: content and peculiarities of functioning

Abstract

Modern information technologies provide new ways of solving a number of practical issues connected with the determination of the volume and content of the modern language individual’s vocabulary. The development of the mobile content market led to the emergence of information and entertainment applications which mobile devices owners can use to extend their vocabulary. These include applications aimed at recognizing and memorizing word meanings, e-dictionaries and e-books, as well as numerouslinguistic games. The article discusses the features of mobile applications which demonstrate the meanings of potential Russian agnonyms (neologisms, special terms, obsolete and rarely used words). The content of such applications is analyzed, their technical potential is assessed, the quality of linguistic information and the manner of its representation are analyzed. On the basis of the author’s own experience conclusions are made about the efficiency of these e-resources in view of the stated goal.