A.S. Hornby Dictionary Research Awards (ASHDRA)
Each year we fund innovative research into Lexicography and dictionary use in ELT
What we do
We support innovative research into areas of lexicography and dictionary use which will build on the pioneering contributions of A.S. Hornby within the field of English language education. Each year we fund original research that aims to produce clear practical benefits for learners of English.
We give priority to new lines of enquiry which cannot be pursued without ASHDRA funding.
ASHDRA can offer funds of up to a total of £15,000. Grants can be either for a single project or shared between smaller initiatives. Previous awards have ranged from less than £1000 up to the maximum amount of £15,000.
ASHDRA awardees get the opportunity to talk about their research in presentations at the major dictionary conferences. More about these conferences here.
The application process is now closed.
Watch ASHDRA Expert Panel member Julie Moore summarize the findings of some ASHDRA funded projects in her presentation at the IATEFL Materials Writing and Research SIGs (MaWSIG and ReSIG) 2024 Joint Conference (with thanks to those SIGs for the videolink)
2025 award recipients
- Dr David Oakey and Dr Christian Jones – University of Liverpool, UK
An open access learner-led online spoken English lexicographic resource for improving spoken vocabulary use in adult learners of English as an additional language (EAL)
- Dr Dishari Chattaraj – Indian Institute of Technology Indore
Language access through lexicons: a plurilingual project to bridge language gaps
- Dr Venny Karolina – Universitas Tanjungpura, Indonesia
Braille English school dictionary with interactive audio-based AI and tactile support for visually impaired primary school students in Indonesia
- Nurfitriah – Coventry University, UK
Enhancing English terminology resources for mining engineering students and professionals through AI-assisted lexicography (in Indonesia)
- Van An Nguyen Thi – Hue University of Foreign Languages, Vietnam
Enhancing medical English through dictionary use and student-created videos
2024 award recipients
- Prof Alexander Black – Universidad Autónoma “Benito Juárez” de Oaxaca
Zap Attack, an interactive, oral dictionary using augmented reality technology operating in English and Zapotec languages
- Prof Ulrike Zeshan – University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN)
Bimodal-bilingual function word dictionary for English grammar games with deaf sign language users in India.
2023 award recipient
- Dai Lingzhen – Minnan Normal University
Improving dictionary skills of teacher trainees
2022 award recipients
- Dr Lorna Morris – African Association for lexicography (Afrilex)
A pocket electronic bilingualised school dictionary for primary school learners in South Africa
- Dr Priya Mathew – Centre for Academic Writing, Middle East College
A bilingual corpus-based physics dictionary for L1 Arabic undergraduates
Country: People’s Republic of China
Lead researcher: Dai Lingzhen
Country: South Africa
Lead researcher: Lorna Morris
Country: Sultanate of Oman
Lead researcher: Priya Mathew and Lee McCallum
Country: Greece
Lead researcher: Thomai Dalpanagioti
Country: Hong Kong, China
Lead researcher: Amy Chi Man Lai
Country: Australia/Vietnam
Lead researcher: Chinh Ngan Nguyen Le
Country: United Kingdom
Lead researcher: Yan Yan Yeung
Country: Indonesia
Lead researcher: Agus Riadi
Country: Northern Ireland
Lead researcher: Aisling O’Boyle
Country: Spain
Lead researcher: Janine Knight