Podcast
Questions and Answers
What primary effect did lexicographical research have on language teaching?
What primary effect did lexicographical research have on language teaching?
- It reduced the importance of language patterns.
- It focused solely on the teaching of grammar rules.
- It caused a revolution in communicative syllabus design. (correct)
- It led to a complete shift away from vocabulary teaching.
The COBUILD English Course was widely adopted by teachers upon its release.
The COBUILD English Course was widely adopted by teachers upon its release.
False (B)
Who initiated the COBUILD project?
Who initiated the COBUILD project?
John Sinclair
The COBUILD English Course was intended to help students build a lexicon of about ______ keywords by the end of the third level.
The COBUILD English Course was intended to help students build a lexicon of about ______ keywords by the end of the third level.
Match the following terms to their definitions:
Match the following terms to their definitions:
In the 1990s, how did coursebooks begin to integrate lexis?
In the 1990s, how did coursebooks begin to integrate lexis?
Vocabulary had previously been perceived mostly as 'phrases'.
Vocabulary had previously been perceived mostly as 'phrases'.
The learning approach is now advocating for a ______ syllabus and a task-based approach.
The learning approach is now advocating for a ______ syllabus and a task-based approach.
What term is used to describe groups of words that realize specific meanings?
What term is used to describe groups of words that realize specific meanings?
Hyponymy refers to a situation where one word is a part of another system of classification.
Hyponymy refers to a situation where one word is a part of another system of classification.
What is the umbrella category in a hyponymy relationship called?
What is the umbrella category in a hyponymy relationship called?
A word like 'dog' is an example of a __________ in the lexical field of animals.
A word like 'dog' is an example of a __________ in the lexical field of animals.
Match the following relationships with their definitions:
Match the following relationships with their definitions:
Which of the following sets of words is an example of meronyms?
Which of the following sets of words is an example of meronyms?
Synonyms are always interchangeable regardless of context.
Synonyms are always interchangeable regardless of context.
Provide an example of a superordinate term for 'apple'.
Provide an example of a superordinate term for 'apple'.
Sofa and settee are examples of __________.
Sofa and settee are examples of __________.
Which of the following is NOT a consideration for synonyms?
Which of the following is NOT a consideration for synonyms?
What does Michael Lewis assert about the nature of language?
What does Michael Lewis assert about the nature of language?
Lexis refers strictly to single word items in language.
Lexis refers strictly to single word items in language.
What is the term used to describe fixed expressions that are commonly used in spoken language?
What is the term used to describe fixed expressions that are commonly used in spoken language?
Michael Lewis categorizes lexical items into four types: Words, Collocations, __________, and __________.
Michael Lewis categorizes lexical items into four types: Words, Collocations, __________, and __________.
Match the following types of lexical items with their descriptions:
Match the following types of lexical items with their descriptions:
Which of the following is an example of a lexical chunk?
Which of the following is an example of a lexical chunk?
The idiom principle suggests that language production relies on novel word formations.
The idiom principle suggests that language production relies on novel word formations.
What is the primary focus of the Lexical Approach in language teaching?
What is the primary focus of the Lexical Approach in language teaching?
According to the Lexical Approach, vocabulary has historically been viewed as __________ compared to grammar.
According to the Lexical Approach, vocabulary has historically been viewed as __________ compared to grammar.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of lexis?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of lexis?
The traditional view considers vocabulary as easy to categorize.
The traditional view considers vocabulary as easy to categorize.
What is the rationale behind teaching multi-word units according to the Lexical Approach?
What is the rationale behind teaching multi-word units according to the Lexical Approach?
Collocations are defined as __________ of words that occur with varying degrees of predictability.
Collocations are defined as __________ of words that occur with varying degrees of predictability.
Which teaching practice does Michael Lewis advocate?
Which teaching practice does Michael Lewis advocate?
Lexical phrases should aid comprehension and ease the load for readers or listeners.
Lexical phrases should aid comprehension and ease the load for readers or listeners.
What does Sinclair's idiom principle claim about language production?
What does Sinclair's idiom principle claim about language production?
Which of the following pairs exemplifies gradable antonyms?
Which of the following pairs exemplifies gradable antonyms?
Converseness is a type of relationship that is not reciprocal.
Converseness is a type of relationship that is not reciprocal.
What type of opposites are opposite entities where if one is applicable, the other cannot be?
What type of opposites are opposite entities where if one is applicable, the other cannot be?
The relationship between the terms 'borrow' and 'lend' can be described as __________.
The relationship between the terms 'borrow' and 'lend' can be described as __________.
Which of the following is an example of a homonym?
Which of the following is an example of a homonym?
Polysemy is characterized by unrelated meanings for the same word.
Polysemy is characterized by unrelated meanings for the same word.
Provide an example of multiple incompatibles.
Provide an example of multiple incompatibles.
What term refers to a word formed of two words, such as ‘science fiction’?
What term refers to a word formed of two words, such as ‘science fiction’?
A lexical item is always a single word.
A lexical item is always a single word.
What is the term for a group of words that belong to the same category?
What is the term for a group of words that belong to the same category?
The word 'transport' is the __________ of 'train', 'bus', 'taxi', 'tram', etc.
The word 'transport' is the __________ of 'train', 'bus', 'taxi', 'tram', etc.
Which of the following best describes items that belong to one topic area?
Which of the following best describes items that belong to one topic area?
Bound morphemes such as ‘–ness’, ‘ir-’, and ‘non-’ are known as __________.
Bound morphemes such as ‘–ness’, ‘ir-’, and ‘non-’ are known as __________.
Provide an example of a word that is an antonym of 'hot'.
Provide an example of a word that is an antonym of 'hot'.
Which of the following is an example of a strong collocation?
Which of the following is an example of a strong collocation?
Collocation is important because it makes up a small percentage of all naturally occurring text.
Collocation is important because it makes up a small percentage of all naturally occurring text.
What term describes words that look the same in two languages but have different meanings?
What term describes words that look the same in two languages but have different meanings?
A common prefix that means 'against' is __________.
A common prefix that means 'against' is __________.
Match the following examples with their collocational categories:
Match the following examples with their collocational categories:
What does polysemy refer to in language?
What does polysemy refer to in language?
Which of the following is considered a weak collocation?
Which of the following is considered a weak collocation?
Languages universally have the same number of days in a week.
Languages universally have the same number of days in a week.
Monosemous words have more than one meaning.
Monosemous words have more than one meaning.
Provide an example of a metaphor linked to time.
Provide an example of a metaphor linked to time.
What is the relationship between 'robbery' and 'robber'?
What is the relationship between 'robbery' and 'robber'?
Homophones are defined as words that sound the __________ but are spelt differently.
Homophones are defined as words that sound the __________ but are spelt differently.
The word 'course' can refer to a ________ taken at a university.
The word 'course' can refer to a ________ taken at a university.
Match the following suffixes with their meanings:
Match the following suffixes with their meanings:
Match the term to its example or definition:
Match the term to its example or definition:
Which of the following is an example of collocation?
Which of the following is an example of collocation?
Which of the following describes the term 'polysemy'?
Which of the following describes the term 'polysemy'?
What is a common source of error for language learners regarding collocations?
What is a common source of error for language learners regarding collocations?
All languages use metaphor in exactly the same way.
All languages use metaphor in exactly the same way.
What analysis technique involves breaking down the components of a word's meaning?
What analysis technique involves breaking down the components of a word's meaning?
All collocations are equally strong.
All collocations are equally strong.
An example of a lexical item with fixed expressions is an ________.
An example of a lexical item with fixed expressions is an ________.
The word 'dedo' in Portuguese means __________.
The word 'dedo' in Portuguese means __________.
Which grammatical category does 'assassination' belong to?
Which grammatical category does 'assassination' belong to?
Match the following words with their descriptions:
Match the following words with their descriptions:
Which of the following best represents a distinguishing feature of componential analysis?
Which of the following best represents a distinguishing feature of componential analysis?
Words in the same lexical field share no features in common.
Words in the same lexical field share no features in common.
What is the term used to describe a situation where one word is a part of another classification?
What is the term used to describe a situation where one word is a part of another classification?
Words that occur together regularly are known as ________.
Words that occur together regularly are known as ________.
Flashcards
Lexical Field
Lexical Field
A group of words that share a common theme or subject, like 'furniture' or 'cooking'.
Lexical Sets
Lexical Sets
Smaller, more specific groups of words within a lexical field, like 'kitchen utensils' or 'types of furniture'.
Superordinate
Superordinate
The overarching category in a classification system, like 'vehicle', 'animal', or 'season'.
Hyponym
Hyponym
Signup and view all the flashcards
Meronymy
Meronymy
Signup and view all the flashcards
Synonyms
Synonyms
Signup and view all the flashcards
Collocation
Collocation
Signup and view all the flashcards
Coverage
Coverage
Signup and view all the flashcards
Connotation
Connotation
Signup and view all the flashcards
Lexical Cohesion
Lexical Cohesion
Signup and view all the flashcards
Lexicography
Lexicography
Signup and view all the flashcards
Corpus
Corpus
Signup and view all the flashcards
Lexical Phrases
Lexical Phrases
Signup and view all the flashcards
Lexical Syllabus
Lexical Syllabus
Signup and view all the flashcards
Task-based Approach
Task-based Approach
Signup and view all the flashcards
Chunk-based Learning
Chunk-based Learning
Signup and view all the flashcards
Retrieval Theory
Retrieval Theory
Signup and view all the flashcards
Lexis
Lexis
Signup and view all the flashcards
Lexical Chunks
Lexical Chunks
Signup and view all the flashcards
Institutionalised Expressions
Institutionalised Expressions
Signup and view all the flashcards
Sentence Frames
Sentence Frames
Signup and view all the flashcards
Idiom Principle
Idiom Principle
Signup and view all the flashcards
Lexical Approach
Lexical Approach
Signup and view all the flashcards
Derived Words
Derived Words
Signup and view all the flashcards
Compound Words
Compound Words
Signup and view all the flashcards
Binomials
Binomials
Signup and view all the flashcards
Trinomials
Trinomials
Signup and view all the flashcards
Idioms
Idioms
Signup and view all the flashcards
Grammar as a System
Grammar as a System
Signup and view all the flashcards
Grammar as Lexicalised Grammar
Grammar as Lexicalised Grammar
Signup and view all the flashcards
Problem with Teaching Vocabulary
Problem with Teaching Vocabulary
Signup and view all the flashcards
Antonyms
Antonyms
Signup and view all the flashcards
Converseness
Converseness
Signup and view all the flashcards
Complementaries
Complementaries
Signup and view all the flashcards
Homonyms
Homonyms
Signup and view all the flashcards
Polysemy
Polysemy
Signup and view all the flashcards
Lexical Organization
Lexical Organization
Signup and view all the flashcards
Teaching Applications
Teaching Applications
Signup and view all the flashcards
Compound Noun
Compound Noun
Signup and view all the flashcards
Polysemous Word
Polysemous Word
Signup and view all the flashcards
False Friends
False Friends
Signup and view all the flashcards
Homophones
Homophones
Signup and view all the flashcards
Word Families
Word Families
Signup and view all the flashcards
Collocation Problem
Collocation Problem
Signup and view all the flashcards
Pronunciation Grouping
Pronunciation Grouping
Signup and view all the flashcards
Metaphor
Metaphor
Signup and view all the flashcards
Componential Analysis
Componential Analysis
Signup and view all the flashcards
Study Notes
Lexis in Language Teaching
- Lexis (vocabulary) is now a more significant aspect of language teaching than in the past.
- Lexicographical research in the 1980s, particularly the COBUILD project, emphasized the importance of vocabulary in language learning.
- The COBUILD English Course (1988) was a pioneering lexically-driven coursebook using corpus data, tasks, and topics, building a lexicon of approximately 2,500 keywords. While innovative, its comprehensive lexical approach and task-based framework prevented widespread adoption.
- Later coursebooks integrated lexis into their multi-layered syllabuses alongside grammar, functions, and skills.
Defining Lexis
- Lexis encompasses more than just individual words; it includes multi-word units as well.
- Lexis and grammar are interconnected.
- Words are fundamental grammatical units, classified as roots, derived words, and compounds.
- Multi-word units (lexical phrases) are fixed or semi-fixed expressions, including idioms, binomials, trinomials, and common phrases.
- Collocations involve predictable pairings e.g., “heavy rain,” “strong coffee.”
- Institutionalised utterances and sentence frames are often used conversationally.
- Oppositeness: There are different types of opposites. Antonyms, such as light/heavy, are opposites but can vary based on meaning. Gradable antonyms, like boiling/freezing, represent a scale.
- Converseness is a reciprocal relationship (parent/child, give/take).
- Complementaries are truly opposite entities (same/different, male/female).
- Multiple incompatibles are a set of mutually exclusive options (January, February etc).
The Lexical Approach
- Michael Lewis emphasizes that language primarily consists of grammaticalized lexis, not lexicalized grammar.
- The role of vocabulary in language teaching is crucial.
- Lexical phrases should be taught as unanalyzed units.
- Language learning benefits from activities like listening and awareness-raising exercises.
Lexis as a System
- Language can be organized based on meaning areas like 'emotions,' 'philosophy,’ and 'kinship,' called lexical fields.
- Lexical fields are categorized into lexical sets.
- Examples of lexical fields include job applications, living rooms, and meals.
- Hyponymy (e.g., vehicle: car, van) and meronymy (e.g., face: nose, cheek) express relationships within lexical fields, illustrating cohesive elements in language.
- Homonymy: the same form with different meanings (e.g., 'bat' – animal and object).
- Polysemy: the same form with related meanings (e.g., 'foot' – body part and base of mountain).
- Metaphor pervades language, linking concrete and abstract concepts. Time and emotion are frequently described metaphorically.
Synonymy
- Synonyms are words with similar meanings, but often have nuanced differences in collocation, meaning, connotation, syntax, style, variety of English (e.g., British vs. American), and register.
- Synonym use contributes to text cohesion and avoids repetition.
Other Lexical Concepts
- Compound nouns: Two or more words combine to form a single noun (e.g., science fiction, passer-by).
- Lexical set: A group of words sharing a common semantic category (e.g., 'apple,' 'kiwi,' 'banana').
- Superordinate term: A more general term encompassing specific words (e.g., 'transport' for 'train,' 'bus').
- Lexical field (or semantic field): A group of words relating to a particular topic (e.g., cooking).
- **Word Families:**Words related in terms of form (e.g., Robbery, robber to rob, burglary, burglar, to burgle) .
- Affixes: Bound morphemes (prefixes and suffixes) that change a word's meaning or part of speech.
- Collocation: The way words are regularly used together (strong, like "spring to mind", or weaker, like "have breakfast").
- False cognates (or false friends): Words that look similar in two languages but have different meanings.
- Homophones: Words that sound the same but are spelled differently (or have different meanings), (e.g., 'bear' and 'bare').
- Componential Analysis: A method that breaks down a word’s meaning into various component parts (e.g., 'man' = human + male + adult).
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
This quiz explores the significance of lexis in language teaching, tracing its evolution and importance since the 1980s. It discusses the COBUILD project and its impact on curriculum development and vocabulary instruction. Test your knowledge of how vocabulary integrates with grammar and the different forms of lexis.
