Understanding English Dictionaries

Online Course

Coventry University

Future Learn

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Understanding English Dictionaries

What is the course about?
Prerequisites & Facts
Cost, Certificate & Degree
Reviews & Experiences

What is the course about?

Understanding English Dictionaries

The course Understanding English Dictionaries is an online class provided by Coventry University through Future Learn. It may be possible to receive a verified certification or use the course to prepare for a degree.

Explore English dictionaries, from how they are compiled, the different types, to the latest lexicographic research.

Course description

Discover the fascinating world of English dictionaries
6 weeks

While many people use dictionaries, they may not know very much about them, especially if they’re online. We aren’t usually aware of which dictionary an entry has come from, why the word was included in the dictionary, how the dictionary compilers assembled this information, or how valid it is.
On this course you will explore the ins and outs of English dictionaries, learning from established dictionary editors and researchers. You will explore subjects such as trends in lexicographic research, possible dictionary entry components, and the content and wording of definitions.

The reasons why we use dictionaries.
The differences between ‘landmark’ dictionaries such as the Oxford English Dictionary and less conventional products such as collaborative and crowdsourced dictionaries.
What goes into a dictionary – who decides, and how?
Dictionaries and dictionary information for different users.
The stages in corpus-based lexicography.
How meanings are created, why some words have more than one meaning, how lexicographers identify meanings and how meanings are explained in a dictionary.

This course is for anyone with a general interest in the English language. It might also be useful for those studying or teaching English, languages or lexicography.
Please note that the individuals listed below under the title “Who will you learn with?” may be subject to change.

Coventry University
Coventry secured gold in the UK Government’s 2017 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and is University of the Year for Student Experience in The Times & The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019.
The Alan Turing Institute
The Alan Turing Institute is the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence, working in partnership with government, industry and universities around the UK.
Macmillan Education
Macmillan Education is part of the Springer Nature group that includes nature, Scientific American and Springer, prestigious brands that have published ground-breaking research for over 150 years.

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Prerequisites & Facts

Understanding English Dictionaries

Course Topic

Language, Learn English, Linguistics, Literature

University, College, Institution

Coventry University

Course Skill Level

see course summary

Course Language

English

Place of class

Online, self-paced (see curriculum for more information)

Degree

Certificate

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Degree & Cost

Understanding English Dictionaries

To obtain a verified certificate from Future Learn / Coventry University you have to finish this course or the latest version of it, if there is a new edition. The class may be free of charge, but there could be some cost to receive a verified certificate or to access the learning materials. The specifics of the course may have been changed, please consult the provider to get the latest quotes and news.

Coventry University

Understanding English Dictionaries

provided by Future Learn

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