In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

Reviewed by:
  • Digital DARE (DAREdictionary.com)
  • Jennifer K. N. Heinmiller (bio)
Digital DARE (DAREdictionary.com) Subscription: $150/year (individual; introductory); $1200/year (institutions); $5500 perpetual (institutions)

Reflecting decades of work and comprising six hefty volumes, the print version of the Dictionary of American Regional English is now complete, but the project continues to thrive and reach a new audience in its new incarnation, Digital DARE. Digital DARE contains all of the information found within the six volumes, including among other things the terms, citations, and bibliography, as well as previously unpublished maps and multimedia features.

The myriad differences between the format of traditional paper dictionaries and the digital platform mean that a traditional style of review may not be the most appropriate method in this case. As such, this review follows selected sections of the thoughtful sets of criteria set forth by Pearsons and Nichols (2013), though the opinions expressed in detailing Digital DARE’s content and features are solely this reviewer’s own. I have employed the numerical ranking system used by Pearsons and Nichols for their first five criteria, as follows:

  1. 1. —Unsatisfactory

  2. 2. —Partly acceptable

  3. 3. —Mostly satisfactory

  4. 4. —Satisfactory

  5. 5. —Very satisfactory

I have also included two additional questions suggested by Shigeru Yamada (2013) for use in reviewing online dictionaries. I begin with his questions, as they are relevant to getting started using an online dictionary and then I move into Pearsons and Nichols’s framework.

Site name and URL:

Digital DARE <http://www.DAREdictionary.com>

Audience:

Native English speakers, advanced learners, and anyone interested in regional American English

Variety:

Regional American English

Dictionary content subsets:

Definitions, citations from outside sources, audio files, distribution maps [End Page 340]

Other content available:

Bibliography of works consulted, distribution maps, audio files, DARE interview questionnaire

Access model:

Paid; limited content available for free

Platforms:

Website

Is there an on-site guide to using the dictionary?

Yes. In fact, two guides are available under the About DARE menu: FAQ: Getting Started and How to Use DARE. The FAQ page provides practical information, such as how to subscribe; general information on how DARE differs from other dictionaries; the ways in which the electronic version differs from the print volumes; the criteria a term must meet for inclusion in DARE; and information about how to perform various types of searches. The How to Use DARE guide provides screenshots of various pages on the site with certain portions highlighted and corresponding explanations below the graphics.

How different is the dictionary site from the print/CD-ROM edition in content and layout?

The format of the entries on the website is quite similar to that used in the print volumes of the dictionary. The screenshots in How to Use DARE illustrate the components of the homepage, menus, and entry pages. A guide to navigating the content of the survey is also provided in the About the DARE Survey section, as well as instructions on how to share content via email or social media platforms and using the My DARE feature.

Framework Criteria

  1. 1. How easy is it to tell who the intended user is?: 5

    The intended user, clearly, is anyone interested in American regional English: scholars, native English-speaking adults, advanced English-language learners, and anyone else who wishes to look up a regional word once in a while.

  1. 2. How user-friendly is the interface?: 4 [End Page 341]

    1. a. Is the design clean and uncluttered, with an immediate impression of simplicity and attractiveness? If there are ads, how intrusive are they? Do they interfere with the navigation?

      There are no ads, as it is a for-purchase service, and the layout is very simple, almost minimalist, but attractive and easy to read with the contrast between the site’s main colors of slate blue and white. The menus are few, with only four appearing below the website title: Dictionary, DARE Survey, About DARE, and Resources. More options, such as Contact Us and Subscriber services, are accessible at the very top of the page.

    2. b. Are the fonts clear and readable, especially for special characters such as pronunciation? Are colors and fonts used effectively to aid understanding and navigation?

      The font used...

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