The Exemplification Pattern and Strategies in Chinese-English Learners’ Dictionaries Intended for EFL Learners in China

Abstract Regardless of their functions, mainstream Chinese-English dictionaries utilise the exemplification pattern of traditional bilingual dictionaries. Under this pattern, not only are target language ‘examples’ the renderings of source language examples but there are also many problems with specific exemplification strategies. Drawing from the discussions and studies on L1-L2 bilingual learners’ dictionaries and the lexicographical function theory, this article aims to elaborate on the issue of the exemplification pattern and strategies in Chinese-English learners’ dictionaries (intended for EFL learners in China). It suggests that since the function of Chinese-English learners’ dictionaries is to meet the second language production and learning needs of Chinese EFL learners, they should employ the exemplification pattern that aims to illustrate the usage of English equivalents and the exemplification strategies that the to-be-included examples should be appropriately adapted to ensure their productivity, clarity, typicality, and (relative) authenticity. Moreover, controlling the quantity and proportion of sentence and phrase examples is also important.