Some electronic dictionaries contain only dictionaries for a single language, but most are geared towards translation into foreign languages, containing Chinese, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Korean, or several English dictionaries. Models may also have memory card slots that can be used for database expansion.
Internal dictionaries are often from several publishers. For example, a single electronic dictionary may contain a Japanese KÅjien dictionary, an Oxford English dictionary, and a Kenkyusha Reader's English-Japanese dictionary. The "jump" function, also known as "skip-search", allows users to move between the dictionaries when looking up words.
History
The first electronic dictionary produced for the Japanese market appeared in 1979 under the name . Physically, it was very similar to the electronic dictionaries produced today. Due to the high price of , the model was quite expensive. However, it was praised for its speed and efficiency. Several major Japanese electronics manufacturers now produce their own versions of the machine.
As the market for electronic dictionaries expanded through the 1980s and 1990s, there have been claims that the rise of the electronic dictionary has caused damage to the Japanese market for paper dictionaries. In 2002, Casio alone sold approximately 2.8 million electronic dictionaries, whereas the domestic market for paper dictionaries stood at 10 million copies. Although this indicates a decrease of 5 million copies when compared with the paper dictionary market in 1992, paper and electronic dictionaries continue to share general use in Japan. Companies producing paper dictionaries have searched for more specialized market niches as a result of these developments.
Standard features
Electronic dictionaries resemble miniature clamshell laptop computers, complete with full keyboards and LCD screens. Because they are intended to be fully portable, the dictionaries are battery-powered and made with durable casing material.
Some features are likely to be found on every model of an electronic dictionary. These include a monolingual dictionary, and a translation dictionary to/from English. Japanese models also usually contain a kanji dictionary in which characters can be found by stroke count, radical, or phonetic value. Some knowledge of Japanese is necessary for use of these features, as Japanese words appear in kanji, katakana, and hiragana rather than .
Top models in Japan may also include a Classical Japanese dictionary, medical or legal dictionaries, Japanese and English thesauri, an English-English dictionary, travel dictionaries, dictionaries of idioms and colloquialisms, a dictionary of foreign words used in Japanese, stroke order animations, voice output, pen entry for kanji and kana, language-learning programs, a calculator, -like organizer functions, encyclopedias, or rechargeable lithium batteries.
In Korea, many electronic dictionaries aimed towards younger users support audio and video-playback as well as DMB in addition to the standard features.
Makers and models
The , Casio, , and Seiko companies dominate the electronic dictionary market in Japan. Japanese-Chinese dictionaries are also available from Chinese and Taiwanese producers such as Besta. While older models were exclusively aimed at Japanese customers, current products such as the Canon Wordtank series are also used by non-native Japanese speakers and beginning students of Japanese. However, because only a fraction of the Japanese entries can be found by looking up the kanji in the word, the utility of these devices for non-native speakers translating written Japanese is quite limited . It's also possible to set up a PDA as an electronic dictionary by adding appropriate software and dictionaries; this can be tailored more specifically to the needs of non-Japanese users.
Ectaco
Ectaco is a manufacturer of translation dictionaries and language software. Founded in 1990 the company currently has almost 300 employees working in 16 different countries. Ectaco has products for 47 different languages, including a translator used by police forces in the United States.
Alfalink
is an Indonesian maker of electronic dictionaries and translators. They offer talking and non-talking products mostly focused on English and many south-east Asian languages such as Indonesian, Malay, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean and more.
Canon
currently has 12 models of electronic dictionary on the market in Japan. Of these, two are for Japanese-Chinese translation, two are designed for study, three are for Japanese-English translation, three are "compact" style, and two are primarily for Japanese-only use. At present, Canon is the only company offering English-language manuals for its products.
The Canon Wordtank models are the most popular among English speaking Japanese language learners. The reason is two-fold. Usefully for beginners, the Canon is the only maker with models that offer English menus and English reference guides. And secondly,and usefully for intermediate and above learners, it is the only brand that has a "jump" function for an entire word; with all other brands the "jump" function can only be used on one single kanji character. The basic functions are designed for native-level Japanese speakers, so, especially when reading Japanese, utility for non-Japanese users is as limited as in other maker's models . Canon models also include stroke-order animations, useful for learning how to write the kanji. This feature appears to be unique to Canon and some PDA systems.
Casio
Casio currently has 27 models on the market in Japan. They contain a range of specialized functions, including Chinese, Korean, Italian, German, Russian and English translation, Buddhist terminology dictionary, and features for both study and daily use. Several models of Casio dictionaries come with slots for inserting data cards containing additional, specialized dictionaries, such as ''The Kodansha Kanji Learner's Dictionary''. Casio writing pads allow the user to pause as long as necessary before writing the next kanji stroke.
Casio electronic dictionaries are popular in South Korea as well. Models contain multiple dictionaries and many are suitable for Koreans who learn and English.
Sharp
currently has 15 models on the market in Japan. They contain features for English and Chinese translation, features designed for business, study, daily life, and travel. Several models contain the contents of Japanese encyclopedias, as well. Some older models still available, such as the PW-M800 and PW-M310, have about twice as many Japanese words than can be looked up by kanji as the current models from any other manufacturer .
Seiko
Seiko currently has 23 models on the market in Japan. Nine are designed for daily use, five for Japanese-English translation, seven for other foreign languages, and two for high school students. Several models of Seiko dictionaries come with slots for inserting data cards containing additional, specialized dictionaries. The Seiko RM-2000 was the only dictionary available that was marketed specifically to English speakers just starting to study Japanese. It was based on the Kenkyusha Romanized English-Japanese/Japanese-English Dictionary but is no longer being manufactured.
Instant-Dict
Instant-Dict, an English/Chinese electronic dictionary, first launched in Hong Kong in 1989 which has since become the leading consumer brand in the Greater China market. Instant-Dict manufactured by Group Sense Limited currently has 14 models on the market in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore.. Several models of Instant-Dict dictionaries come with slots for inserting data cards containing additional, specialized dictionaries. One model has built-in camera.
Besta
BESTA, an English/Chinese electronic dictionary, an independent subsidiary company of Inventec Group, first launched in Taipei in 1989 which has since become the leading consumer brand in the Asian market. BESTA manufactured by Inventec Besta Co.,Ltd. currently has 30+ models on the market in Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. Several models of BESTA dictionaries come with slots for inserting SD/MMC data cards containing additional, specialized dictionaries. It has been ranked 1st place for "Taiwan's Ideal Electronic Dictionary Brand" for twelve consecutive years.
Franklin Electronic Publishers
Franklin Electronic Publishers is the most common brand found in the US. It has several models, both English-only and translators, like English-Spanish and 5- or 12- languages. It has also various speaking models.
PDA-based dictionaries
PDAs are small, often pocket-sized computers that can accept various software programs and databases. In the past, dictionaries available for these have been small and the software for using them rudimentary compared to the regular electronic dictionaries. However, lately, full-featured dictionary programs and fairly complete suites of dictionary databases have become available. Advantages for non-Japanese users center around the fact that programs and most of the dictionaries are designed for their needs, rather than for those of Japanese learning English, as in most of the standard Japanese models. Palm-based systems, although less capable as dictionaries due to the limited Japanese-entry systems, can still be more powerful and easier to use than devices built for the Japanese market . Windows Mobile and Sharp Zaurus models offer superb handwriting recognition and other Japanese input methods and can use the same large dictionaries, including Eijiro, as the Palm systems. Moreover, PDA systems can be expanded by adding additional dictionaries, such as the Koujien or Daijirin Japanese-Japanese dictionaries that are standard in specialized electronic dictionaries like the models described above, as well as dictionaries for special interests and other languages.
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