One of the ways in which humans express their thoughts, ideas, emotions etc. is through language whether oral or written. Language then can be described as a system of communication that encodes and decodes information. Each language, including academic language, has its own set of conventions, vocabulary, grammar, syntax.
Language as symbols
Language consists of a set of symbols that members of a group learn to interpret in order to communicate with one another. We refer to the building blocks of a language, namely words as symbols because it only represents the actual object or experience. When words are transcribed into written language symbols such as hieroglyphics, the alphabet, or signs, are used.
Vocabulary
The collection of words used by a particular person is called his or her vocabulary.
Typically someone’s vocabulary does not represent all the words of that particular language. We distinguish between a person’s active vocabulary and his passive vocabulary. If you are able to use the word even though you can not clearly explain it or you know the meaning, its use and its definition, we say it forms part of your active vocabulary.
Words that are considered part of your passive vocabulary would be:
* the ones you have heard of but you cannot define as well as
* the ones you recognise but only because you can infer its meaning from the context or the tone of voice.
Vocabulary and reasoning
In Western philosophy, the system of thought that underlies academic and scientific language, the spoken and written word is closely associated with our mental faculties, reason or logic. In Ancient Greek philosophical terminology, the word logos was used for both language and for reason. Linguistic vocabulary is synonymous with thinking vocabulary. 2)
Vocabulary and communication
The more extensive your vocabulary, the better you are able to express yourself and the more effective you will be able to communicate with others. Very often and sometimes mistakenly, people are judged based on their vocabulary. Any foreign person who has just started learning a new language will tell you that they are often considered uneducated or stupid because they are not yet able to express themselves adequately. They don’t necessarily lack the mental capacity, they lack the words to express it. The same often applies to students coming to grips with academic language.
Learning and Vocabulary
A lot of research has been done into the relationship between students’ academic progress and their academic vocabulary ability.
It is well known that a positive correlation exists between academic background knowledge or long term memory and academic achievement. Students who have a large amount of academic background knowledge about a topic learn new information on the same subject easier and quicker than those who do not. 3)
The reason is that the brain looks for places to file or categorize information. The broader the background knowledge the more the brain extracts information from learning content and categorizes this information. 4) For information to be stored in the long term memory to create background knowledge, it has to find a category in the brain to link it to. The more categories exist the easier the linking process is.
How is this linked to vocabulary? New research has shown that academic vocabulary is one of the strongest indicators of how well students will learn subject area content. 5) As academic knowledge consists segments of information, concepts and ideas that are represented by words and phrases, one can conclude that the better your vocabulary, the more categories are available in your brain and the better you are able to learn.
Vocabulary development is a vital part of all content learning. “If you don't have vocabulary for a content area, you don't know the content area ..” 6)
Vocabulary and
Another important reason for increasing your vocabulary is that vocabulary size has been directly linked to reading comprehension. 7)
Vocabulary learning tips
This list of ten strategies to improve your vocabulary has been adapted from the list provided on the Sheppard Software website. 8) For the full article visit http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/vocabulary_tips.htm
1. Vocabulary Learning Tip One: Read, Read, Read! Most vocabulary words are learned from context. The more words you're exposed to, the better vocabulary you will have. While you read, pay close attention to words you don't know. First, try to figure out their meanings from context. Then look the words up. Read and listen to challenging material so that you'll be exposed to many new words.
2. Vocabulary Learning Tip Two: Improve your context skills. Research shows that the vast majority of words are learned from context. To improve your context skills pay close attention to how words are used.
3. Vocabulary Learning Tip Three: Practice, practice, practice. Learning a word won't help very much if you promptly forget it. Research shows that it takes from 10 to 20 repetitions to really make a word part of your vocabulary. It helps to write the word - both the definition and a sentence you make up using the word - perhaps on an index card that can later be reviewed. As soon as you learn a new word, start using it.
4. Vocabulary Learning Tip Four: Make up as many associations and connections as possible. Say the word aloud to activate your auditory memory. Relate the word to words you already know. For example, the word LEVATOR SCAPULAE refers to the muscle that attaches to the scapula and the skull and its purpose is to lift the shoulder or to put it in scientific language to elevate the shoulder. You can remember LEVATOR SCAPULAE by linking the first part of the muscle name to levitate or ‘to go higher’. You can also link the word LEVATOR to elevate in the same way as an elevator in American English moves up a building’s lift shaft. Or imagine the magician using magic tricks to get his supine assistant to levitate.
5. Vocabulary Learning Tip Five: Use mnemonics (memory tricks). For example, for the bones of the lower limb: “Help five police to find ten missing prisoners.” (hip, femur, patella, tibia, fibula, tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges). 9) Such funny little word pictures will help you remember what words mean, AND they are fun to make up. Also, find out which learning style suits you best. Everyone learns differently!
6. Vocabulary Learning Tip Six: Get in the habit of looking up words you don't know. If you have a dictionary programme on your computer, keep it open and handy.
7. Vocabulary Learning Tip Seven: Play with words. Play Scrabble, Boggle, and do crossword puzzles. These and other word games are available for the computer, so you are not dependent on a partner to play. Also, try out the Franklin Electronic Dictionary that features built-in word games.
8. Vocabulary Learning Tip Eight: Use vocabulary lists. There are also many interesting word sites on the Internet, many of which will send you a word a day by email.
9. Vocabulary Learning Tip Nine: Take vocabulary tests. Playing games, such as the ones on www.sheppardsoftware.com, that test your knowledge will help you learn new words and also let you know how much progress you're making.
10. Vocabulary Learning Tip Ten: Get excited about words! Come to appreciate the sometimes-subtle differences between them. Do you know the difference between something that denotes something else and something that connotes something else? If not, go look it up. Learn to say what you really mean and discover the joys of being able to express yourself in writing. Your future can depend on how rich your vocabulary is. A good vocabulary will make a difference to your academic success. It will also determine the quality of your communication. Let building your vocabulary be a lifelong proposition. Until you have a word for something, it does not exist for you. Name it, and you have made your reality richer.
References:
- Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language
- Stahl, Steven A. Vocabulary Development.
- ASCD http://www.ascd.org and Marzano, Robert J. Building Background Knowledge for Academic Achievement.
- Eric Jensen, Brain Based Learning
- ASCD http://www.ascd.org a
- http://www.tulsaschools.org/employees/tr/TeacherHandbook_06-07/BuildingAcademicVocab.pdf
- Stahl, Steven A. Vocabulary Development.
- Sheppard Software http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/vocabulary_tips.htm
- Mnemonics Guide: http://www.eudesign.com/mnems/bones.htm
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