Summing up

Learner’s dictionariesare dictionaries specifically compiled to meet the demands of the learners of English. The dictionaries may be classified in accordance with: 1) the scope of the word-list, and 2) the nature of the information afforded. Basic – elementary – pre-intermediate learner’s dictionaries as well as intermediate ones contain only the most essential and important words, whereas upper-intermediate – advanced learner’s dictionaries contain all lexical units that the prospective user may need. As to the information they provide all learner’s dictionaries may be divided into two groups: 1) those giving equal attention to the word’s semantic characteristics and the way it is used in speech; 2) those presenting different aspects of the vocabulary.

The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English had enormous impact on English language teaching. It was based on the fundamental principles which make learner’s dictionaries different from all others. Among them is the principle of user-orientation (user-friendliness). The realization of the principle includes the use of the defining vocabulary in semantization, the learner’s oriented presentation of meanings and the deliberate set of philological citations and illustrative phrases.

Key terms: learner’s dictionary, basic – elementary – pre-intermediate, intermediate, upper-intermediate – advanced learner’s dictionaries, user- orientation (user-friendliness), openness, vocabulary control movement, Basic English, defining vocabulary, philological citations and illustrative phrases core or nuclear English.