Dictionary Use by Trainee Translators

Abstract Dictionaries have always been an important tool for linguists, and more specifically for translators. Learning how students of translation use dictionaries is essential if students are to be effective users of dictionaries. This research examines the dictionary usage habits of 201 trainee translators and identified significant differences among first-, second-, third- and fourth-year students. The resources that students most often consulted, based on their first L2, were also specified. A self-reported questionnaire was devised to collect data. The results revealed that the use of monolingual and specialized resources tended to be higher in the last years of the degree program. The students’ lack of awareness and infrequent use of specialized resources were also reflected in the study. Generally speaking, our results showed that students did not take advantage of the wide variety of resources available.