Ways to Strengthen Vocabulary Acquisition
P. Vijay Kumar
Asst Professor of English at SRKR Engineering College, Bhimavaram,
affiliated to Andhra University,Vizag, Andhra Pradesh.
&
B. Suresh
Asst Professor of English at Swarnadhra Engineering College, Narsapur,
affiliated to JNTU Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
&
N. Sagar
Asst Professor of English at SRKR Engineering College, Bhimavaram,
affiliated to Andhra University, Vizag, Andhra Pradesh
India
Abstract:
Vocabulary is the backbone to learn any language. For instance, one can’t speak Japanese
language without knowing the meanings of Japanese words. Vocabulary means knowing
meaning of a word and knowing how to use them effectively in different contexts. English
language vocabulary acquisition is a field of investigation where research has been done on it
for the last few years. English language vocabulary acquisition is an essential element for
second language teachers, learners, language users and students who are preparing for
competitive exams like TOEFL, GRE, IELTS, Bank, Railways and other competitive exams.
But it is the question what is the right way and which method is the best way to get command
over vocabulary. This article answers this question and aims at present various methods and
approaches to master over English vocabulary acquisition.
Key words: Vocabulary acquisition- vocabulary learning methods- team work- practice
INTRODUCTION:
It was suggested that one should learn minimum 2500 to3000 words to speak English
language. Of course it is true, but these are not enough to get through in competitive exams
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and to understand various scientific, technical, business articles and to get vast knowledge in
various disciplines. English is a library language as 80% of the books printed in English so
one must be able to understand written or printed information and able to understand what
others say.
For this, one has to know various approaches to get sound knowledge in vocabulary. The
following methods are useful for vocabulary acquisition. They are root words affixes, explicit
and implicit method, learning word in context, semantic method, vocabulary games etc. Let
us know about all these methods in detail.
Ways to strengthen vocabulary acquisition
1.
Prefixes, suffixes & roots: prefix is the word which comes before root word. For
example in the words neophyte, neonatal, neology, neo is the prefix. Neo means new, natal
means birth, neonatal means newly born, logy means study; neology means study of new
things. So by knowing the meaning of prefix and root word, it is easy to say the meaning of
the word. a, anti, ambi, be, co, dis, de, in, neo, pre, poly re, sub etc are prefixes
Suffix is the word which comes after root word. For instance, in the words democracy,
aristocracy, , theocracy , cracy is the suffix. Cracy means rule, demo means people so
democracy means ruled by people, aristocracy means ruled by noble, theology means ruled
by God
In the same way root words help a lot to know meaning of different and difficult words. For
example scribe is the root word. Let us see various examples by adding affixes to the root
word. Scribe means write. Inscribe, describe, ascribe, proscribe, transcribe, prescribe, and
subscribe etc. we come to know meanings of all these words when we know meanings of
prefixes like in, de, a, pro, trans, pre, sub etc. In the same way we can guess the meanings of
invert, revert, convert, introvert, ambivert, advert, avert, subvert, pervert etc when we know
the meanings of root word vert and prefixes.
2.
Polysemy method is also useful to enhance vocabulary. Polysemy means a word
rarely has more than one meaning. For example, the word applied means apply, of a branch
science, put into practical use etc. The word right means straight, correct, appropriate,
healthy etc. the word head means part of the body, chief, leader, topmost, topic, denouement
etc. so learner has to refer to thesaurus to know different meanings for the same word.
3.
Explicit & Implicit methods: Explicit method refers to the direct learning of
vocabulary by referring to dictionary and learning list of word ten or twenty per day. If one
learns minimum ten new words per day strictly, it is easy to him/her to learn vast vocabulary.
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Dedication is important to follow this method. Where as implicit method refers to use of
integrated tasks. One can enhance his vocabulary by reading books, novels, articles,
matching, reading comprehension, by downloading vocabulary apps etc. Implicit method is
effective method to learn vocabulary in stress-less way.
4.
Learning words in context:. It helps to learners for better comprehension. When
learners make a clear link between words definition and something known to themselves,
they can remember and use the words correctly. For example parsimonious means very
unwilling to spend money. Learner can remember it through the sentence one who is
unwilling to spend money from purse is parsimonious. Context clues can be remembered or
framed on basis of definition, synonyms, antonyms, contrast and general etc..
5.
Sentence generation method: It is also one of the methods to enhance vocabulary.
Learners construct or frame a sentence from which the meaning of the word. For example
adroit means skillful. One can remember this meaning by framing sentence like my friend
Rajesh is adroit in dancing.
6.
Semantic mapping method: It is effective method which facilitates to strengthen
vocabulary It involves brainstorming associations that a word has diagrammatically
displaying the results. It is a method of teaching or learning using graphical representations
of concepts and the relationship between them
Eg:
7.
Through homonyms: The words which have almost same pronunciation but have
different spelling and different meanings. By knowing homonyms one must extend his
vocabulary list. The following are the examples of homonyms- write, right-rite advice-advise
bye-buy-by eye-I- flour-flower-grate-great-sun-son-too-two-to-none-nun etc/
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8.
By comparison: the new words may be associated with the old ones, so it is easy to
learn new words by knowing synonyms and antonyms etc. For example if one knows the
meaning of theist, he remembers easily the meaning of atheist.
9.
Mnemonic method: It involves the use of both visual and verbal mental imagery to
relate a word to be memorized with some previously learned knowledge. For example to
remember the meaning of lukewarm, one can imagine bathing with lukewarm is better than
cool water. For the abstract concepts, it better to use verbal than visualize. By mnemonic
method one can remember easily the names of nine planes. For example by remembering the
sentence My Very Energetic Mother Just Showed Us Nine Planets. If we take first letter in
the each word, we can say Mercury, Venus,Earth ,Mar, Jupitar, Saturn,Uranus, Neptune,
Pluto respectively.
10.
Vocabulary games: It is effective method for learners to expand their vocabulary in a
cool way. Crosswords, puzzles, fill in the blanks, jumbling words, picture mapping, and
true/false statements, complete the text and anagrams etc.
11.
Practice: It has utmost importance in the learning of vocabulary. Learners should
prepare their own dictionaries. They should note down the new words and their meanings,
synonyms, antonyms etc. By practicing usage of words, producing examples, refer to pocket
dictionary, thesaurus, discussion, team work, they can expand their vocabulary list.
12.
Some useful vocabulary websites: The following websites are helpful to increase
vocabulary.
get the words
Dictionary.com’s word-of-the-day
Wordplayscom.wordgames
Vocabulary.com.freeword puzzles&activities
Englsih-word formation etc
CONCLUSION:
A rich vocabulary enriches the language. It makes the skills of listening, speaking,
reading and writing easier to perform. One can develop fluency with the known vocabulary.
Learners should cultivate the habit of listening to English news, reading English news papers,
magazines, journals etc and note down the new words which they don’t know. They have to
concentrate on phrases, idioms, one word substitutes, pairs of words etc. No one can learn
extend his vocabulary by following a single method. So learner has to follow integrated
approach by synthesizing all methods. Team work is useful to build up and brush up the vast
knowledge in vocabulary.
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