International Journal of English Linguistics; Vol. 12, No. 2; 2022 ISSN 1923-869X E-ISSN 1923-8703 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education 25 Successful Translation Students’ Use of Dictionaries Nasrin Altuwairesh 1 1 College of Languages & Translation, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Correspondence: Nasrin Altuwairesh, College of Languages & Translation, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. E-mail: naltuwairesh@ksu.edu.sa Received: November 17, 2021 Accepted: December 28, 2021 Online Published: January 11, 2022 doi:10.5539/ijel.v12n2p25 URL: https://doi.org/10.5539/ijel.v12n2p25 Abstract Dictionaries of all types are an indispensable tool for both professional and trainee translators. However, the literature on trainee translators indicates that the skills associated with dictionary use have not been given the required attention. Knowing which dictionaries to use and how to use them efficiently when engaged in the translation process are significant aspects of translation pedagogy. In fact, facilitating the development of effective dictionary use helps develop translation competence in general. Therefore, the present article reports on a qualitative case study of successful translation students’ usage of and preferences for various types of dictionaries. The results show that successful trainee translators use dictionaries to locate synonyms or better translations for target words. Successful translation students are also reported to use dictionaries frequently to check spelling. Most respondents reported consulting the dictionary after they finished reading source texts. In line with the global move toward digitalization, the participants reported using electronic dictionaries with significantly greater frequency than paper dictionaries. In most cases, successful translation students’ use of paper dictionaries was limited to classroom examinations. The open-ended interview questions also helped to reveal the variety of dictionaries used by this group of trainee translators. Taken together, these findings have utility for translation instructors, particularly regarding the improvement of trainee translators’ experiences and the provision of assistance to less successful students. Keywords: dictionary use, e-dictionaries, translation trainees, translation training, translation pedagogy 1. Introduction The success of translation depends on a solid foundation in the basics (Fujii, 2007). Effective dictionary use is undoubtedly a cornerstone in this regard since the usefulness of dictionaries as a tool for translators is an unquestionable matter. The problem lies, however, in the user’s efficient and proper use of such tools. Yet research into dictionary use, in general, “does not have a long history” (Nesi, 2014, p. 38). One problem identified in the literature on trainee translators is that the skills associated with dictionary use have not been given enough attention (Kodura, 2016; Law, 2009). Furthermore, research carried out on dictionary use indicates that not all dictionary users have appropriate skills, which is especially true regarding electronic dictionaries (Mavrommatidou, 2018). Recent efforts have been made to improve dictionaries, but little has been done to discover how to equip dictionary users with better skills when interacting with dictionaries (Lew, 2013a). Moreover, there is a paucity of literature on dictionary users’ behaviors and preferences, with the only studies in this area having been conducted to investigate language learners and not translators (Lew & De Schryver, 2014). Recently, due to the prevalence of technology, learners around the globe are showing a preference for free electronic resources (Lew & Szarowska, 2017). In the case of dictionaries, as the status of these resources has experienced drastic changes (e.g., changes in modes of access), so too have the patterns of user behavior shifted (Liang & Xu, 2018). Therefore, since little has been done to build the profiles of trainee translators regarding their dictionary use and preferences, this paper investigates the dictionary use practices and preferences of a group of successful trainee translators. 2. Literature Review 2.1 Translation Competence A major skill for any professional translator is the skill of dictionary use. In particular, efficient dictionary use is a critical skill that every trainee translator must acquire. Several models that account for translation competence