Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does the 'core meaning' of a word refer to?
What does the 'core meaning' of a word refer to?
- Its intrinsic meaning found in a dictionary (correct)
- The emotional connotation it carries
- The different contexts in which it can be used
- Its pronunciation
Homonymy refers to a word that has several related meanings.
Homonymy refers to a word that has several related meanings.
False (B)
What are the different types of knowledge involved in knowing a word?
What are the different types of knowledge involved in knowing a word?
Meaning, pronunciation, spelling, collocates, and usage contexts.
A _____ is a short coat with a hood worn for protection against rain.
A _____ is a short coat with a hood worn for protection against rain.
Match the term with its definition:
Match the term with its definition:
What is the estimated range of vocabulary size for educated native speakers?
What is the estimated range of vocabulary size for educated native speakers?
A native speaker's productive vocabulary is estimated to be equal to their recognition vocabulary.
A native speaker's productive vocabulary is estimated to be equal to their recognition vocabulary.
How many word families do researchers identify to exist in the English language?
How many word families do researchers identify to exist in the English language?
A native English-speaking university graduate is estimated to have a vocabulary size of about _____ word families.
A native English-speaking university graduate is estimated to have a vocabulary size of about _____ word families.
Which of the following words has a different form that may not be counted as a single lexical item?
Which of the following words has a different form that may not be counted as a single lexical item?
A child of five typically has a vocabulary of about _____ to _____ word families.
A child of five typically has a vocabulary of about _____ to _____ word families.
Match the vocabulary estimate with the corresponding speaker type:
Match the vocabulary estimate with the corresponding speaker type:
What do Schmitt and McCarthy highlight when discussing the size of the English language vocabulary?
What do Schmitt and McCarthy highlight when discussing the size of the English language vocabulary?
What is the strongest feature in the links between lexical items?
What is the strongest feature in the links between lexical items?
Native speakers retrieve words more slowly than non-native speakers.
Native speakers retrieve words more slowly than non-native speakers.
What are the three major classes of words mentioned?
What are the three major classes of words mentioned?
Words that are connected by their sound similarities are called _____.
Words that are connected by their sound similarities are called _____.
Match the types of associations to their descriptions:
Match the types of associations to their descriptions:
Which of the following best describes derived words in our lexicon?
Which of the following best describes derived words in our lexicon?
Receptive vocabulary refers to words that we can actively use in writing and speech.
Receptive vocabulary refers to words that we can actively use in writing and speech.
What is a common strategy for teaching vocabulary that aligns with how words are stored?
What is a common strategy for teaching vocabulary that aligns with how words are stored?
The organization of words in our mind produces a ____-like set of associations.
The organization of words in our mind produces a ____-like set of associations.
Match the vocabulary teaching techniques with their purposes:
Match the vocabulary teaching techniques with their purposes:
Which type of strategy might native speakers use that second language learners might struggle with?
Which type of strategy might native speakers use that second language learners might struggle with?
Lexical items can be organized in terms of their meanings, sounds, and spelling patterns.
Lexical items can be organized in terms of their meanings, sounds, and spelling patterns.
What is the difference between receptive and productive vocabulary?
What is the difference between receptive and productive vocabulary?
The mental lexicon is organized in a systematic way so that learners can access words based on their _____.
The mental lexicon is organized in a systematic way so that learners can access words based on their _____.
What does connotation refer to?
What does connotation refer to?
Connotations of words are always universal and shared by everyone.
Connotations of words are always universal and shared by everyone.
What is meant by 'register' in language usage?
What is meant by 'register' in language usage?
The word 'suburb' is often associated with being _____ and dull.
The word 'suburb' is often associated with being _____ and dull.
Match the following terms to their descriptions:
Match the following terms to their descriptions:
Which of the following statements is true regarding connotation?
Which of the following statements is true regarding connotation?
Words can have different connotations in various cultures.
Words can have different connotations in various cultures.
Give an example of a word that has a derogatory connotation.
Give an example of a word that has a derogatory connotation.
According to Schmitt, how many words account for 95% of typical spoken interaction?
According to Schmitt, how many words account for 95% of typical spoken interaction?
Teaching beyond the core 2,000 words is considered an effective use of class time.
Teaching beyond the core 2,000 words is considered an effective use of class time.
What is the term used to describe the ratio of content words to function words in a text?
What is the term used to describe the ratio of content words to function words in a text?
Spoken English tends to have a lower _______ variety than written English.
Spoken English tends to have a lower _______ variety than written English.
Match the following lexical items with their characteristics:
Match the following lexical items with their characteristics:
Which of the following is an example of vague language?
Which of the following is an example of vague language?
Learners can achieve communicative competence without mastering the core vocabulary.
Learners can achieve communicative competence without mastering the core vocabulary.
What kind of language is characterized by terms like 'so' or 'anyway'?
What kind of language is characterized by terms like 'so' or 'anyway'?
Explicit teaching of lexis is particularly important at _______ levels.
Explicit teaching of lexis is particularly important at _______ levels.
Match the classroom strategies for teaching vocabulary with their description:
Match the classroom strategies for teaching vocabulary with their description:
How many words does a native speaker need to know to increase their communication effectiveness from 95% to 96%?
How many words does a native speaker need to know to increase their communication effectiveness from 95% to 96%?
Incidental learning opportunities are more beneficial for learners with substantial vocabulary knowledge.
Incidental learning opportunities are more beneficial for learners with substantial vocabulary knowledge.
What is the main reason for focusing on core vocabulary in teaching?
What is the main reason for focusing on core vocabulary in teaching?
Using _______ nouns, verbs, and adjectives is common in spoken English.
Using _______ nouns, verbs, and adjectives is common in spoken English.
Match the terminology with their respective implications for teaching vocabulary:
Match the terminology with their respective implications for teaching vocabulary:
What best describes the term 'register'?
What best describes the term 'register'?
Lexical differences are usually less significant than grammatical differences between varieties of a language.
Lexical differences are usually less significant than grammatical differences between varieties of a language.
Name one example of a type of collocation.
Name one example of a type of collocation.
In spoken English, the average native speaker's vocabulary is roughly ____ of that in written language.
In spoken English, the average native speaker's vocabulary is roughly ____ of that in written language.
Match the following terms with their definitions:
Match the following terms with their definitions:
Which of the following best represents a lexical difference in language?
Which of the following best represents a lexical difference in language?
Colligation is another term for lexical collocation.
Colligation is another term for lexical collocation.
What do we call the ability to recognize a word's written form and spell it correctly?
What do we call the ability to recognize a word's written form and spell it correctly?
Certain English words have a discoursal role in spoken language; for example, the word '____' can mark a change of topic.
Certain English words have a discoursal role in spoken language; for example, the word '____' can mark a change of topic.
Match the following features with spoken and written English:
Match the following features with spoken and written English:
Which of the following represents an example of a concept related to word association?
Which of the following represents an example of a concept related to word association?
Word retrieval refers to the ability to remember words and their meanings quickly.
Word retrieval refers to the ability to remember words and their meanings quickly.
What type of vocabulary includes words that can actively be used in writing and speech?
What type of vocabulary includes words that can actively be used in writing and speech?
The term ____ refers to the relationships between words that are related in meaning.
The term ____ refers to the relationships between words that are related in meaning.
Match the vocabulary estimates with corresponding speaker types:
Match the vocabulary estimates with corresponding speaker types:
Which question would best check the characteristics of an object?
Which question would best check the characteristics of an object?
The opposite of a mess is tidy.
The opposite of a mess is tidy.
What is the primary importance of pronunciation in word knowledge?
What is the primary importance of pronunciation in word knowledge?
The room's a _____!
The room's a _____!
Match the following phonological activities with their descriptions:
Match the following phonological activities with their descriptions:
What percentage of words on any page of any book do the most frequent 2,000 headwords account for?
What percentage of words on any page of any book do the most frequent 2,000 headwords account for?
The General Service List of English Words was first published in 1953.
The General Service List of English Words was first published in 1953.
What is the primary purpose of building corpora in language studies?
What is the primary purpose of building corpora in language studies?
The most common words in English should be the initial teaching goal, focusing on a list of __________ words.
The most common words in English should be the initial teaching goal, focusing on a list of __________ words.
Match the following types of word frequency to their examples:
Match the following types of word frequency to their examples:
What is one of the advantages of using frequency counts in language teaching?
What is one of the advantages of using frequency counts in language teaching?
Teaching specialized vocabulary should always come before teaching high-frequency words.
Teaching specialized vocabulary should always come before teaching high-frequency words.
How can concordances help language learners?
How can concordances help language learners?
What does the term 'availability' refer to in vocabulary teaching?
What does the term 'availability' refer to in vocabulary teaching?
Concrete items are generally less teachable than abstract ones.
Concrete items are generally less teachable than abstract ones.
Name one factor that affects the teachability of a word.
Name one factor that affects the teachability of a word.
In vocabulary selection, the term 'range' refers to the number of different ______ in which a word occurs.
In vocabulary selection, the term 'range' refers to the number of different ______ in which a word occurs.
Match the following criteria with their descriptions:
Match the following criteria with their descriptions:
Which of the following learns vocabulary more effectively based on their needs?
Which of the following learns vocabulary more effectively based on their needs?
A word that is frequently occurring is guaranteed to be easy to learn.
A word that is frequently occurring is guaranteed to be easy to learn.
What type of vocabulary is particularly relevant to a classroom setting?
What type of vocabulary is particularly relevant to a classroom setting?
Words that represent ______ objects are generally more available than abstract terms.
Words that represent ______ objects are generally more available than abstract terms.
Match the following vocabulary concepts with their definitions:
Match the following vocabulary concepts with their definitions:
Which aspect affects a word's availability according to McCarthy?
Which aspect affects a word's availability according to McCarthy?
Learners should focus solely on frequently occurring vocabulary in their studies.
Learners should focus solely on frequently occurring vocabulary in their studies.
What is one common challenge for learners of English regarding delexicalized words?
What is one common challenge for learners of English regarding delexicalized words?
A word's ______ can be influenced by whether it has similar concepts in the learner's first language.
A word's ______ can be influenced by whether it has similar concepts in the learner's first language.
Match the following terms with their implications for teaching vocabulary:
Match the following terms with their implications for teaching vocabulary:
Which vocabulary item would a learner in the USA be more likely to use instead of the British term 'tube'?
Which vocabulary item would a learner in the USA be more likely to use instead of the British term 'tube'?
Grouping lexical items in teaching is universally encouraged without exception.
Grouping lexical items in teaching is universally encouraged without exception.
What is one common technique for introducing vocabulary to learners?
What is one common technique for introducing vocabulary to learners?
Learners in a non-English speaking environment will primarily need vocabulary related to their __________.
Learners in a non-English speaking environment will primarily need vocabulary related to their __________.
Match the following vocabulary teaching techniques with their purpose:
Match the following vocabulary teaching techniques with their purpose:
What is an average range suggested for introducing new lexical items in a sixty-minute lesson?
What is an average range suggested for introducing new lexical items in a sixty-minute lesson?
Contextualized vocabulary learning is deemed less effective than learning through word pairs.
Contextualized vocabulary learning is deemed less effective than learning through word pairs.
Name one abstract word that may be misunderstood by learners.
Name one abstract word that may be misunderstood by learners.
Research is inconclusive regarding whether learning vocabulary in ________ is superior to learning through pair translations.
Research is inconclusive regarding whether learning vocabulary in ________ is superior to learning through pair translations.
Match the following teaching approaches to their descriptions:
Match the following teaching approaches to their descriptions:
Which of the following best describes the Distance Delta's view on vocabulary acquisition?
Which of the following best describes the Distance Delta's view on vocabulary acquisition?
The Lexical Approach provides clear guidance on designing a lexically-based syllabus.
The Lexical Approach provides clear guidance on designing a lexically-based syllabus.
What type of vocabulary items are learners likely to need based on their interests?
What type of vocabulary items are learners likely to need based on their interests?
The study of how vocabulary items are connected and stored in our minds reflects a ________ nature of vocabulary.
The study of how vocabulary items are connected and stored in our minds reflects a ________ nature of vocabulary.
What is the concept of 'cognitive depth' related to vocabulary acquisition?
What is the concept of 'cognitive depth' related to vocabulary acquisition?
Teaching vocabulary in isolation is more effective than teaching it within a phrase.
Teaching vocabulary in isolation is more effective than teaching it within a phrase.
What are false cognates, also known as 'faux amis'?
What are false cognates, also known as 'faux amis'?
In vocabulary teaching, _____ means checking that students truly understand the meaning of a word.
In vocabulary teaching, _____ means checking that students truly understand the meaning of a word.
Which of the following is NOT a technique to check meaning?
Which of the following is NOT a technique to check meaning?
Collocation is not important for understanding a word's usage.
Collocation is not important for understanding a word's usage.
Name one strategy suggested to improve vocabulary acquisition.
Name one strategy suggested to improve vocabulary acquisition.
A _____ is a type of beverage often associated with dinner, and it can be red, white, or sparkling.
A _____ is a type of beverage often associated with dinner, and it can be red, white, or sparkling.
Match the vocabulary items with their usage examples:
Match the vocabulary items with their usage examples:
What is one reason that vocabulary teaching is often found to be ineffective?
What is one reason that vocabulary teaching is often found to be ineffective?
Visual aids are particularly ineffective for lower-level learners.
Visual aids are particularly ineffective for lower-level learners.
Provide an example of a lexical item that may require checking for meaning.
Provide an example of a lexical item that may require checking for meaning.
Understanding a word's _____ can help learners build a web of associations and deepen their knowledge.
Understanding a word's _____ can help learners build a web of associations and deepen their knowledge.
What does it mean to 'personalize' vocabulary learning?
What does it mean to 'personalize' vocabulary learning?
What is a primary reason to show learners the written form of a word?
What is a primary reason to show learners the written form of a word?
Spelling patterns in English are always consistent with pronunciation.
Spelling patterns in English are always consistent with pronunciation.
Name one type of meaningful task that can help learners practice lexis more deeply.
Name one type of meaningful task that can help learners practice lexis more deeply.
A ______ is a body of language samples used in linguistic research.
A ______ is a body of language samples used in linguistic research.
Match the following exercises with their purposes:
Match the following exercises with their purposes:
Which of the following resources is NOT typically used when creating a corpus?
Which of the following resources is NOT typically used when creating a corpus?
The use of corpora can help identify the frequency and collocations of lexical items.
The use of corpora can help identify the frequency and collocations of lexical items.
What disadvantage might some learners encounter when hearing new vocabulary?
What disadvantage might some learners encounter when hearing new vocabulary?
What is the primary purpose of using corpora in language teaching?
What is the primary purpose of using corpora in language teaching?
Incidental learning is important for vocabulary acquisition.
Incidental learning is important for vocabulary acquisition.
What is one method for promoting incidental vocabulary learning in students?
What is one method for promoting incidental vocabulary learning in students?
Corpora can provide an unlimited amount of natural examples of language, _____ the need for invented sentences.
Corpora can provide an unlimited amount of natural examples of language, _____ the need for invented sentences.
Match the type of corpus with its description:
Match the type of corpus with its description:
Which of the following strategies is NOT associated with promoting incidental vocabulary learning?
Which of the following strategies is NOT associated with promoting incidental vocabulary learning?
Teachers can create their own corpora for classroom use.
Teachers can create their own corpora for classroom use.
What size is the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA)?
What size is the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA)?
Using corpora allows students to investigate their own _____ through looking at correct use.
Using corpora allows students to investigate their own _____ through looking at correct use.
What does Lewis suggest is necessary for acquiring 1,000 vocabulary items?
What does Lewis suggest is necessary for acquiring 1,000 vocabulary items?
Match the vocabulary learning strategies with their descriptions:
Match the vocabulary learning strategies with their descriptions:
Corpora are solely for serious and analytical study.
Corpora are solely for serious and analytical study.
How can students use corpora to create class materials?
How can students use corpora to create class materials?
A spoken corpus of travel agent interactions is an example of a _____ corpus.
A spoken corpus of travel agent interactions is an example of a _____ corpus.
Which term describes a collection of real-life texts for language analysis?
Which term describes a collection of real-life texts for language analysis?
Incidental learning refers to planned vocabulary instruction by the teacher.
Incidental learning refers to planned vocabulary instruction by the teacher.
What is the term for a group of words sharing the same root with different affixes?
What is the term for a group of words sharing the same root with different affixes?
The __________ of a word refers to its 'dictionary meaning' without social or regional interpretations.
The __________ of a word refers to its 'dictionary meaning' without social or regional interpretations.
Which of the following is an example of a delexicalised verb?
Which of the following is an example of a delexicalised verb?
Teaching lexis explicitly is unnecessary for language learners.
Teaching lexis explicitly is unnecessary for language learners.
Define incidental learning in the context of vocabulary acquisition.
Define incidental learning in the context of vocabulary acquisition.
Linguistic varieties governed by context are referred to as __________.
Linguistic varieties governed by context are referred to as __________.
Which type of vocabulary knowledge is described as words we can actively use?
Which type of vocabulary knowledge is described as words we can actively use?
Which of the following is a strategy for learning vocabulary from context?
Which of the following is a strategy for learning vocabulary from context?
Using mnemonic strategies is one of the least important vocabulary learning strategies.
Using mnemonic strategies is one of the least important vocabulary learning strategies.
What is a false cognate? Provide an example.
What is a false cognate? Provide an example.
Strategies for coping with low-frequency words include _____ from context, using word parts, and mnemonic learning.
Strategies for coping with low-frequency words include _____ from context, using word parts, and mnemonic learning.
Match the strategies to their descriptions:
Match the strategies to their descriptions:
Which of the following is NOT a memory strategy for vocabulary learning?
Which of the following is NOT a memory strategy for vocabulary learning?
Culturally-specific lexis can be easily understood by all learners without additional context.
Culturally-specific lexis can be easily understood by all learners without additional context.
What does ‘zero affixation’ refer to in vocabulary learning?
What does ‘zero affixation’ refer to in vocabulary learning?
Students may confuse _____ and polysemy, where the latter refers to a word having multiple meanings.
Students may confuse _____ and polysemy, where the latter refers to a word having multiple meanings.
Match the terminology related to meaning issues in vocabulary:
Match the terminology related to meaning issues in vocabulary:
Which phonological challenge might affect a learner from a phonetic language?
Which phonological challenge might affect a learner from a phonetic language?
Rote vocabulary learning is an effective strategy for understanding complex word meanings.
Rote vocabulary learning is an effective strategy for understanding complex word meanings.
What problem can arise from spelling similarities in vocabulary learning?
What problem can arise from spelling similarities in vocabulary learning?
Lexical items can be categorized based on their _______ characteristics.
Lexical items can be categorized based on their _______ characteristics.
What is an effective way to revise vocabulary according to the strategies discussed?
What is an effective way to revise vocabulary according to the strategies discussed?
Flashcards
Vocabulary Size
Vocabulary Size
The total number of words a person knows and understands.
Word Family
Word Family
A group of words related in meaning and form, including the base word, its inflections, and common derivatives.
Productive Vocabulary
Productive Vocabulary
The collection of words a person knows and is able to use productively when speaking or writing.
Receptive Vocabulary
Receptive Vocabulary
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Core Vocabulary
Core Vocabulary
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Mental Lexicon
Mental Lexicon
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Vocabulary Acquisition
Vocabulary Acquisition
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Vocabulary Richness
Vocabulary Richness
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Referential Meaning
Referential Meaning
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Homonymy
Homonymy
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Polysemy
Polysemy
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Metaphor
Metaphor
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Collocates
Collocates
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Synonyms
Synonyms
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Antonyms
Antonyms
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Collocations
Collocations
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Homophones
Homophones
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Semantic Field
Semantic Field
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Superordinate
Superordinate
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Hyponym
Hyponym
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Lexical Retrieval
Lexical Retrieval
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Phonological Organization
Phonological Organization
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Orthographic Organization
Orthographic Organization
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Lexical Set Teaching
Lexical Set Teaching
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Encyclopaedic Knowledge
Encyclopaedic Knowledge
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Connotation
Connotation
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Register
Register
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Schemata
Schemata
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Emotive Meaning
Emotive Meaning
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Frequency Intuition
Frequency Intuition
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Technical Vocabulary
Technical Vocabulary
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Neutral Vocabulary
Neutral Vocabulary
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Discourse marker
Discourse marker
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Lexical Variety
Lexical Variety
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Lexical Density
Lexical Density
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Delexicalized Verbs
Delexicalized Verbs
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Deictics
Deictics
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Knowing a Word is Not a Black and White Thing
Knowing a Word is Not a Black and White Thing
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Incidental Learning
Incidental Learning
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Explicit Teaching of Lexis
Explicit Teaching of Lexis
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Criteria for Vocabulary Selection
Criteria for Vocabulary Selection
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Grouping Lexical Items
Grouping Lexical Items
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Vague Language
Vague Language
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Informal Lexis
Informal Lexis
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Vocabulary Acquisition as a Process
Vocabulary Acquisition as a Process
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Variety
Variety
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Style
Style
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Word Association
Word Association
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Written Form: Spelling
Written Form: Spelling
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Phonological Form: Syllables, Sounds and Stress
Phonological Form: Syllables, Sounds and Stress
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Word Class
Word Class
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Retrieval
Retrieval
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Written and Spoken Lexis
Written and Spoken Lexis
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Spoken English: Clause
Spoken English: Clause
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Spoken English: Short Turns
Spoken English: Short Turns
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Spoken English: Conversational Signals
Spoken English: Conversational Signals
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Spoken English: Vocabulary
Spoken English: Vocabulary
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Spoken English: Importance for Learners
Spoken English: Importance for Learners
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Range
Range
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Availability
Availability
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Teachability
Teachability
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Learnability
Learnability
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Learners' Needs
Learners' Needs
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Word Frequency
Word Frequency
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Corpus
Corpus
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Frequency Counts
Frequency Counts
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High-Frequency Words
High-Frequency Words
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Spoken vs. Written English
Spoken vs. Written English
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Word List
Word List
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Updated Corpora
Updated Corpora
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Pronunciation
Pronunciation
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Synophony
Synophony
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Drilling
Drilling
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Grammar Dictation (Dictogloss)
Grammar Dictation (Dictogloss)
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Selecting Lexis in Different Contexts
Selecting Lexis in Different Contexts
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Lexical Sets
Lexical Sets
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Systematised Vocabulary Presentation
Systematised Vocabulary Presentation
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How Many New Words?
How Many New Words?
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Vocabulary Acquisition as a Constant Process
Vocabulary Acquisition as a Constant Process
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Contextualising New Lexis
Contextualising New Lexis
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Phonological Chunking
Phonological Chunking
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Visuals for vocabulary
Visuals for vocabulary
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What are corpora?
What are corpora?
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How can corpora help teachers?
How can corpora help teachers?
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What's the benefit of using corpora over invented sentences?
What's the benefit of using corpora over invented sentences?
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How can learners use corpora to improve their language?
How can learners use corpora to improve their language?
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What is incidental learning?
What is incidental learning?
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Why is incidental learning important?
Why is incidental learning important?
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How can we promote incidental learning?
How can we promote incidental learning?
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What are vocabulary learning strategies?
What are vocabulary learning strategies?
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Why is it impossible to teach all vocabulary?
Why is it impossible to teach all vocabulary?
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Why is active participation in vocabulary learning important?
Why is active participation in vocabulary learning important?
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What is word frequency, and what are high-frequency words?
What is word frequency, and what are high-frequency words?
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How are corpora used to study word frequency?
How are corpora used to study word frequency?
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Why is it important to learn high-frequency words first?
Why is it important to learn high-frequency words first?
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What is involved in vocabulary selection?
What is involved in vocabulary selection?
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What are lexical sets?
What are lexical sets?
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Idiomaticity
Idiomaticity
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Culturally-specific lexis
Culturally-specific lexis
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Metonymy
Metonymy
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Polysemy (in context)
Polysemy (in context)
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Denotation
Denotation
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Corpus Linguistics
Corpus Linguistics
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Consonant Cluster Articulation
Consonant Cluster Articulation
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Inappropriate Register
Inappropriate Register
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Lexis
Lexis
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Study Notes
Vocabulary Size
- English vocabulary estimates range from 400,000 to millions of words. Defining "word" is complex (e.g., "loved" vs. "loving," multiple meanings of "bear," phrasal verbs).
- Educated native speakers likely recognize 100,000 to 200,000 words (including derived words). Estimates are sometimes as low as 40,000.
- A reasonable estimate suggests educated native speakers can understand 45,000–60,000 items, though productive vocabulary is possibly lower.
- 54,000 word families were identified in a 1963 dictionary. A 5-year-old's vocabulary is around 4,000-5,000 word families, increasing by about 1,000 annually, leading to a university graduate's vocabulary of roughly 20,000 word families.
- Vocabulary size is not uniform; usage frequency varies across genres and contexts.
- The 2,000 most frequent words account for at least 85% of words in any book or spoken text, regardless of topic.
- Learners need to see written form to support oral work, especially at lower levels where spelling patterns differ from pronunciation. Varying methods of presentation (seeing words before hearing them) caters to different learning styles. Connecting words like "tough" and "rough" aids spelling memorization.
The Mental Lexicon
- Native speakers’ large vocabularies and rapid access suggest a structured mental organization.
- Lexical items are grouped semantically, with interconnected associations and networks.
- These connections link to encyclopedic knowledge, forming complex web-like associations.
Links and Associations
- Strongest links exist between coordinates (e.g., bread-butter, good-bad).
- Collocations (e.g., bright-red, fish-finger) exhibit strong associations.
- Superordination, hyponymy, synonymy, and antonyms are weaker associations.
- Phonological features (word beginnings/endings, syllables, stress, rhythm) strongly influence associations, especially in children.
- Parts of speech (verbs, nouns, adjectives) exhibit strong connections.
- Spelling patterns create associations.
- Words are often stored in chunks, including derived words.
- Native speakers’ rapid word retrieval is due to high frequency and use.
Teaching Implications
- Similar strategies for building a mental lexicon apply to second language learners.
- Learners’ first language lexicon influences new language learning.
- A single integrated network is increasingly viewed as the mental organization for bilingual speakers.
- Teaching methods like modeling, drilling, and highlighting stress/sound similarities reinforce lexicon storage patterns. Grouping words, personal connections, and lexical sets create meaning.
Knowing a Word
- Word knowledge varies significantly; some words are vaguely known, others fully understood and usable.
- Knowing a word involves multiple aspects: receptive and productive vocabulary (understanding vs. use), meaning, context, collocations, pronunciation, and spelling.
Meaning of Words
- Referential, denotative, or core meaning defines a word's dictionary definition.
- Words often have multiple meanings (homonymy) or related meanings (polysemy).
- Metaphorical language use is essential for comprehension of unfamiliar or novel metaphors.
Connotation
- Connotation, or affective/emotive meaning, represents additional meaning related to people's attitudes.
- Connotation is shared by groups (cultural, social, gender, age), or restricted to individuals based on experience.
- Connotation can be positive, negative or more complex.
- Dictionary definitions may include "derogatory" information.
- Example: "summer afternoon" evokes associations (sunshine, beaches, laziness).
- Cultural schemata differ in evoked connotations.
Register
- Register refers to a specific vocabulary suited for a specific group (occupation, interests).
- Register may have distinguishing words, usage patterns or grammar.
- "Jargon" is sometimes a less polite term for register.
- Register can be a general term including variety and style.
Variety
- Variety, often geographical or social, leads to variations in language (e.g., British English, Australian English).
- Differences in vocabulary are frequent (example: "hood" vs. "bonnet", "stroller" vs. "buggy").
- Grammatival differences also occur.
Style
- Style refers to language type for a genre or formality level.
- There are structural and lexical differences (e.g., Latin-origin words tend to be formal).
Word Association
- Knowing a word involves associating it with other words.
- Associations include similar-sounding words, co-occurring words, collocated words and words related in meaning through coordination, synonymy, antonymy, and other relations.
Written Form: Spelling
- Recognizing and correctly spelling words is a learned skill.
- Some words have common misspellings (e.g., "definitely," "separate").
- Spelling variations by language variety or within a word's form (e.g., "practise" / "practice") can be problematic, as can interference from the student's first language (L1) spelling.
- Learners need to see written forms to support oral work, especially at low levels where spelling patterns may be inconsistent.
Phonological Form: Syllables, Sounds and Stress
- Understanding sound and pronunciation is crucial.
- Awareness of sounds, syllable count, stress patterns and similar-sounding words are important.
Word Class
- Recognizing parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives) is fundamental even without knowing the labels.
Collocation
- Collocation encompasses lexical and grammatical collocations.
- Lexical collocations include "make a mistake".
- Grammatical collocations include prepositions ("apologise for something," "be good at something").
- Word order in binomials and trinomials is also key ("a black and white television").
Retrieval
- Retrieval, meaning remembering a word, can be problematic temporarily.
- Ability to recall and produce words is essential.
Written and Spoken Lexis
- Historically, research on English structure & lexis relied on written sources.
- Corpus linguistics has revealed differences between spoken and written English.
- Spoken English units are clauses, not sentences.
- One-word turns can be meaningful in spoken interactions ("Ready?" – "Yeah").
- Spoken English uses words in a conversational role ( e.g., "now").
- Spoken English vocabulary is about half the size of written vocabulary.
- A core vocabulary of 2,000 words accounts for around 95% of spoken interaction.
- Vague language, repetition, and lower lexical density are characteristics of spoken English.
- Vague language, such as “kind of,” is not an indication of poor usage but rather a feature of spontaneous communication.
- Discourse markers are often more informal ("anyway" versus "another important aspect is").
- Many delexicalised verbs (e.g., "get," "do," "make") with associated collocations are used.
- Simple nouns, verbs, and adjectives are common in spoken English.
- Deictic expressions (pointing out place/time) are crucial in spoken language.
Lexis in Language Learning
- Explicit and implicit teaching are both necessary.
- Teachers must choose which words to teach learners explicitly and how to group them.
- Vocabulary acquisition is a process.
- Learners need vocabulary-learning strategies.
- Frequency of use (and range) are important factors when selecting vocabulary.
- Learners' needs should be paramount in vocabulary selection, considering individual subjects, interests, and contexts.
Explicit or Direct Teaching of Lexis
- Explicit vocabulary instruction is important, especially for lower-level learners.
Range
- Range refers to the number of different contexts a word appears in.
Availability
- Availability refers to how easily a word comes to mind.
Teachability and Learnability
- Teachability considers how easily a word's meaning can be illustrated, considering concrete vs. abstract concepts, links to other words (lexical sets), and similar concepts in the learner's first language.
- Learnability evaluates potential difficulties with pronunciation, spelling, similarity to first language words or other learned words, grammatical issues, cultural relevance, and overall utility to the learner.
Learners’ Needs
- Learners need frequently used words for frequent use.
- Learning words relevant to individual needs and situations is essential, including topic-based lexis.
Selecting Lexis in Different Contexts
- Vocabulary selection should consider the learner's local variety of English and their individual needs.
Ordering Lexis
- Criteria for ordering vocabulary for teaching include frequency, structural fit, teachability, appearance in texts, student needs, and topic.
Grouping Lexical Items for Teaching Purposes
- Grouping words into lexical sets, based on semantic relationships, can aid comprehension and memory.
How Many Items?
- Ideally, a vocabulary lesson should introduce 8-12 new, productively usable words, though not all will be retained by the learners.
Introducing Lexis
- Contextualisation is an important approach, making words memorable.
- De-contextualised learning can also be effective.
Checking Meaning
- Ensuring comprehensive understanding is vital. Meaning should be verified (or established) considering word connotations, use in various registers, styles and varieties. Problems with false cognates should also be addressed if they appear in the targeted vocabulary.
Pronunciation
- Emphasise pronunciation through modelling, drilling, and listening activities.
Vocabulary Practice Activities
- Various methods for practicing lexis are available (gap-fills, crosswords, hangman, information gaps, odd one out, pelmanism, labelling pictures, ordering words, matching, videos, word association, storytelling, discussions, etc.).
Using Corpora
- Corpora (collections of language samples) are valuable resources for examining language use, including frequency, meaning variations, collocations, grammatical patterns, and connotations. Corpora can support teaching assumptions with data and provide authentic examples of language use.
- Corpora facilitates inquiry-based, student-center learning and aids in error correction. Students can use corpora to reinforce language, discover patterns, and infer meaning.
- Several corpora are publicly accessible, including the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA).
- Teachers can create their own corpora for use in the classroom.
Incidental Learning
- Incidental learning is valuable due to the large size of the lexicon; repeated exposure outside the classroom is essential.
- Extensive reading (graded readers or authentic texts), listening (songs, news, TV), communicative tasks ( storytelling, TPR, role-play), online activities, and project work promote incidental learning.
Vocabulary Learning Strategies
- Learners need tools to acquire vocabulary because low-frequency words can be guessed from context (if high-frequency words are known).
- Strategies include guessing from context, using word parts, mnemonic devices, choosing words to learn, dealing with unknown words (ignoring, L1 or FL comparisons, context deduction, seeking help, or consulting a dictionary), using dictionaries (pronunciation, grammar, frequency guides,), recording vocabulary, memory strategies (linking to others, spidergrams, associations, keywords), reviewing/revising (cards, apps), and understanding word formation rules (prefixes, suffixes, compounds).
Problems in Vocabulary Teaching
- Issues relating to meaning, form, phonology, and appropriacy should be anticipated.
- Problems may include false cognates, homonymy/polysemy, idiomaticity, spelling similarities, synonymy, overlapping uses in first language, multiple parts of speech (zero affixation), culturally-specific lexis, metonymy (indirect references), spelling rules, grammatical variations, silent letters, consonant clusters, L1 transfer, register issues, and variety variations.
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Description
This quiz explores the intricacies of English vocabulary size and the concept of the mental lexicon. Participants will learn about estimates of word recognition among native speakers, the development of vocabulary from childhood to adulthood, and the variability in word frequency across different contexts. Test your understanding of vocabulary dynamics!
