Applying Smartphone Technology to Compile Innovative Arabic Learner's Dictionaries

Arabic dictionaries suffer from several drawbacks that render them mostly inadequate for learners. The advent of mobile digital devices, especially the smartphone platform, has made it possible to significantly enhance the language learning experience in hitherto unavailable ways. This paper describes some of the methodology used in compiling two innovative Arabic learner's dictionaries fine-tuned to the special needs of learners that present abundant lexicographic information in a user friendly manner. The first is a printed dictionary and the second is a mobile application for the smartphone platform. Both use a phonemic transcription system that enables learners to pronounce Arabic accurately.