I downloaded and previewed StarDict from the Source Forge website. It is an online dictionary with a pronunciation feature and full text language translator.
As best as I can tell, there are/were at least six collaborators on this software. The author, Hu Zheng, developed the software and is supported by an organization called Gnome. Here is a link to their Documentation Project.
What is impressive about this software is that when the program is opened (from your hard drive) you can actively scan text from other programs and web pages to receive pop-up prompts in order to get translations/definitions. You simply place your cursor over a word or group of text and a window opens with the words already populated in the box. A tool bar is available to select whatever task you wish to perform.
Granted, it appears not to recognize all words or grammatical syntaxes; and there is no clear instruction on how to change the default language in the results pane when using the dictionary option. However, I see an educational benefit for this program for ESL and Special Education students.
Overall, I’d say it is a great 3-in-1 program!
This sounds like something that needs to be tweaked, but has great potential. The language converter in the typical Word program is severely lacking and this sounds like it might be a netter option. I have a lot of ELL students. Thanks for bringing this one up!
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