Learning technical terms from the textbook vs learning technical terms from the technical dictionary

Abstract

This study was conducted to find out whether the technical dictionary
is the better alternative than the specialised textbooks in learning
technical vocabulary amongst students pursuing a major. Bearing in
mind that technical vocabulary can also be learned from the textbook
via lexical familiarisation devices, it was, however, earlier assumed
that the technical dictionary may be a more effective tool to learning
technical vocabulary in that every new term is normally carried and
explained in dictionaries. Data for the study was obtained from a
textbook sample derived from a set of 5 different introductory business
textbooks for beginner undergraduates. The textbook sample
comprises 500 explained terms, which comprise the first 100 terms
from each textbook. Two business dictionaries were used in
combination to check the textbook terms' availability. The results of
this study suggest that the texlbook may be superior to the technical
dictionary in learning technical terms in the students' major. Out of
all the explained terms from the textbook sample, a quarter was not
found in the technical dictionary, suggesting that students could be
better off learning these terms via lexical familiarisation from the
textbook itself.