The Language Program in the Arts

presents

“‘Looking up’ – Working with French, German, and Spanish Online Bilingual Dictionaries”

by

Dr. Margaret Cop

Bilingual dictionaries can use the digital medium to their advantage. For example, with a user-friendly layout, by using hyperlinks and tooltips, by using advanced search algorithms, and by updating the dictionary on an ongoing basis. An online bilingual dictionary can thus be more up-to-date and far easier to use than its printed counterpart. In this workshop we will explore the characteristics of a high-quality bilingual online dictionary, see how a good bilingual dictionary can outperform machine translation, and practice compiling online dictionary entries with a simple editor interface. A selection of useful online language reference works for English, French, German, and Spanish will also be presented.

Participants are asked to bring their laptop computers if available.

BIO: Dr. Margaret Cop spent 9 years at the Center for Dictionary Research, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg doing academic research on metalexicography. This was followed by 25 years of managing printed and online bilingual dictionary projects in up to 7 languages with Germany’s largest publisher of bilingual dictionaries, PONS Langenscheidt GmbH in Stuttgart. She currently translates and manages translation and localization in up to 18 languages for global packaging and instruction guides at Spin Master Ltd. In Toronto, working on several brands, including educational games such as Rubik’s.

January 20, 3:00 pm, BAC 137
Refreshments will be provided!