10. An electronic dictionary for electronic translation of words or compound words in a source language on a source medium into corresponding words or compound words in a target language, said electronic dictionary comprising: an optical reader having means for optically reading the source language to be translated by illuminating the medium with light from a light source external to the electronic dictionary and converting light reflected by the medium into electrical signals, said optical reader having a light collector for collecting light from the external source to be directed onto the medium, said light collector including a pair of plastic plates and fluorescent dye diffused between them, and a tip to which the light is guided and at which the light is radiated outside of said light collector; a translation unit which produces, on the basis of electrical signals, an output of target language corresponding to the source language read by the optical reader; and a display unit having a display panel for display on said display panel of the target language produced by said translation unit, said light collector being generally planar and transparent and being disposed over said display panel.
10. An electronic dictionary for electronic translation of words or compound words in a source language on a source medium into corresponding words or compound words in a target language, said electronic dictionary comprising: an optical reader having means for optically reading the source language to be translated by illuminating the medium with light from a light source external to the electronic dictionary and converting light reflected by the medium into electrical signals, said optical reader having a light collector for collecting light from the external source to be directed onto the medium, said light collector including a pair of plastic plates and fluorescent dye diffused between them, and a tip to which the light is guided and at which the light is radiated outside of said light collector; a translation unit which produces, on the basis of electrical signals, an output of target language corresponding to the source language read by the optical reader; and a display unit having a display panel for display on said display panel of the target language produced by said translation unit, said light collector being generally planar and transparent and being disposed over said display panel. 11. An electronic dictionary as in claim 10, further comprising means for redirecting the light from said tip of said light collector toward the medium.