Introduction to Vocabulary
Vocabulary forms an integral part of the process of reading and readers’ comprehension. It refers to the words needed for communicating effectively. It implies receptive vocabulary and expressive vocabulary. Receptive vocabulary refers to the words that we hear and read while expressive vocabulary implies the words that we speak and write. It is rightly said that without vocabulary, it is not possible to convey anything. A broader idea of vocabulary is discussed below.
Vocabulary Definition
Vocabulary is denoted as “the group and collection of words that are known and used by a particular person”. It can also be defined as “a list or collection of words or phrases that are normally alphabetically arranged and defined or explained”.
Vocabulary is also commonly called wordstock, lexis, and lexicon.
Importance of Vocabulary
Vocabulary is an essential part of anyone’s life and the following points describe the importance of vocabulary.
Vocabulary is critical for communication and expression
Vocabulary forms the basis of reading comprehension
Linguistic vocabulary and thinking vocabulary work parallel
Vocabulary also forms a basis for judgment many times
For conveying anything, vocabulary is important
What is Vocabulary in English?
The answer to 'what is vocabulary in English?' is all the words that form a language to be understood by a specific person or maybe a group of people. Vocabulary in English can be categorized into two types, namely- active and passive. The words that we use and understand in day-to-day language are termed as active vocabulary while the ones which we know but use rarely are said to be passive vocabulary.
Three Tiers of Vocabulary
Vocabulary is described with the following three tiers:
Basic Vocabulary
The basic words form the first tier of vocabulary. These words normally have a single meaning and do not require instruction. Early reading words, sight words, adjectives, verbs, nouns, etc are portrayed in this tier. 8000-word families in English comprise this tier.
High-frequency Vocabulary
Also called the multiple meaning vocabulary tier, this tier comprises words used in a variety of domains, adult communication, literature, etc. It influences reading and speaking. 7000-word families comprise this tier. The characteristics for tier two words are as follows:
It has multiple meanings
Vital for reading comprehension
Typical mature language
Descriptive vocabulary
A diverse environment use these words
Used for direct instruction
Low-frequency Vocabulary
The words that are used only when specifically required or in a particular domain like weather, technology, geographical region, occupation, hobbies, school, etc. comprise this tier. About four lakh words in vocabulary in English comprise this tier.
Types of Vocabulary
The types of vocabulary can be categorized based on spoken and written vocabulary. Children start vocabulary-building through listening and speaking even before writing and reading. Every type of vocabulary has a different aim and purpose. However, the development of one type of vocabulary facilitates another.
The types of vocabulary are discussed below briefly.
Listening Vocabulary
Listening vocabulary comprises words that we understand through hearing. A fetus may start recognizing some words when in the womb. Learning new words is a continuous process, and by the time you reach adulthood, almost fifty thousand words are understood and recognized by you. Deaf people can be exposed to visual listening vocabulary for learning.
Speaking Vocabulary
Speaking vocabulary consists of words that we actually speak. It has a horizon of around 5000 to 10000 words. These are used for giving instructions and conversations. The number of words in this category are comparatively lesser than the listening vocabulary.
Reading Vocabulary
The major ingredient of vocabulary building is reading. Reading grows and develops your vocabulary. The words we get to learn while reading a text are termed as reading vocabulary. It may happen that we understand words through reading vocabulary even if we don’t use it in speaking vocabulary.
Writing Vocabulary
Words we recoup while expressing ourselves through writing are termed as writing vocabulary. Writing vocabulary is normally influenced by the words we are able to spell. We find it easy to express verbally, through facial expression, or intonation, but writing vocabulary depends upon our expertise in vocabulary.
Final Vocabulary
Richard Rorty discovered this term ‘Final Vocabulary’. It is a collection, set, or group of words that every person applies to justify their actions, beliefs, and lives. Final vocabulary comprises words a person avails to praise, contempt, express deep feelings, hopes, doubts, etc.
Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary
Students can adopt several ways to improve their vocabulary. A few important ways to improve vocabulary are given here:
Develop a Reading Habit: Students can improve their vocabulary if they develop a reading habit. It is easy to improve vocabulary when they come across new words while reading a novel or a newspaper article. They can add new and unfamiliar words to their list.
Dictionary and Thesaurus: Students can use online dictionaries and thesauruses for improving vocabulary. They can find synonyms to the words that are far better than the words used by them. Dictionaries can help students to learn about root words, related words, and antonyms.
Word Games: Word games such as scrabble are useful for students to expand and enhance their vocabulary. Students can note down the important words that they learn while playing the game and can use them in their writing.
Flashcards: Students can use flashcards to learn different words. There are many smartphone apps that can help students to make flashcards and they can make a number of words everyday to increase their vocabulary.
Use new Words in Conversation: Students must try to use new words in their conversation. They can use the words that they learn from reading or while watching TV in their conversation to remember them.
Conclusion
People struggle with vocabulary due to lack of instruction, learning strategies, poor memory skills, or learning disabilities. Response to Intervention program (RTl) assists in vocabulary-building.
Learning and exploring new words and then applying them in different contexts improves your communication skills. Always keep learning antonyms, synonyms, connotations, idioms, phrases, and keep reading various books to develop your vocabulary.
FAQs on Vocabulary and Types of Vocabulary: Explained
1. What is vocabulary and what are its main types?
Vocabulary refers to the collection of words in a language that a person knows and uses for effective communication. It can be broadly categorised into two main forms: receptive vocabulary (words we understand when we hear or read them) and expressive vocabulary (words we use when we speak or write). It can also be divided into four primary types based on usage:
- Listening Vocabulary: Words we recognise and understand when heard.
- Speaking Vocabulary: Words we use in our daily conversations.
- Reading Vocabulary: Words we learn and understand through written texts.
- Writing Vocabulary: Words we retrieve and use to express ourselves in writing.
2. How are the three tiers of vocabulary different from each other?
The three tiers of vocabulary categorise words based on their frequency and utility. The key differences are:
- Tier 1 (Basic Vocabulary): These are high-frequency words used in everyday conversation, like 'happy', 'run', and 'table'. They rarely require direct instruction.
- Tier 2 (High-Frequency Vocabulary): These words appear across various domains and are crucial for reading comprehension and mature language use. Examples include 'analyse', 'fortunate', and 'meticulous'. They often have multiple meanings.
- Tier 3 (Low-Frequency Vocabulary): These words are specific to a particular subject or domain, such as 'photosynthesis' in biology or 'algorithm' in computer science. They are learned as part of a specific topic of study.
3. What is the difference between active and passive vocabulary?
The main difference between active and passive vocabulary lies in usage and recall. Active vocabulary consists of words that you understand and use comfortably and frequently in your own speech and writing. In contrast, passive vocabulary includes words that you recognise and understand when you read or hear them, but do not typically use yourself in everyday communication.
4. What are some effective techniques for students to improve their vocabulary?
Students can use several effective techniques to build a stronger vocabulary, as recommended in the CBSE/NCERT curriculum for English. Key methods include:
- Developing a Reading Habit: Regularly reading books, articles, and newspapers exposes you to new words in context.
- Using a Dictionary and Thesaurus: Actively look up unfamiliar words to learn their meanings, synonyms, and antonyms.
- Playing Word Games: Games like Scrabble, crosswords, and word puzzles make learning new words engaging.
- Using Flashcards: Creating flashcards with a new word on one side and its definition on the other is a proven memorisation technique.
- Practising in Conversation: Make a conscious effort to use newly learned words in your daily conversations and writing to move them into your active vocabulary.
5. Why is a strong vocabulary considered crucial for reading comprehension and critical thinking?
A strong vocabulary is crucial because words are the building blocks of ideas. For reading comprehension, knowing a wide range of words allows a student to understand texts with greater precision and nuance, reducing the need to stop and look up meanings. For critical thinking, a larger vocabulary enables a person to articulate complex thoughts, make finer distinctions between ideas, and understand the subtle arguments of others, which is fundamental to analysing information and forming reasoned judgements.
6. How do the listening, speaking, reading, and writing vocabularies develop and interact with each other?
These four types of vocabulary are interconnected and typically develop in a sequence. A child's listening vocabulary develops first, followed by their speaking vocabulary. As they learn to read, their reading vocabulary grows rapidly, which often becomes the largest of the four. This, in turn, enhances their writing vocabulary. Growth in one area supports the others; for instance, encountering a new word through reading (reading vocabulary) can later help you recognise it in a conversation (listening vocabulary) and eventually use it yourself (speaking/writing vocabulary).
7. What is 'focal vocabulary' and can you provide an example?
A focal vocabulary is a specialised set of terms and distinctions that is particularly important to a certain group or culture, especially those with a focus on a specific activity or experience. It reflects what is culturally significant. For example, a professional chef would have a large focal vocabulary related to cooking, including terms like 'julienne', 'sauté', 'blanch', and 'roux', which are not typically used in everyday language by non-chefs.
8. Beyond just memorising words, what strategies help in truly internalising new vocabulary for active use?
To truly internalise new words for active use, one must go beyond rote memorisation. Effective strategies include:
- Contextual Learning: Pay attention to how a new word is used in a sentence. Try creating your own original sentences with it.
- Understanding Word Parts: Learn common prefixes, suffixes, and root words (morphology). This helps you decode new words and understand their relationships.
- Word Association: Connect new words to words you already know, or create mental images and mnemonic devices to aid recall.
- Consistent Application: Deliberately use new words in writing assignments, class discussions, and conversations. The more you use a word, the more it becomes part of your active vocabulary.
9. What is the concept of a 'final vocabulary' as described by Richard Rorty?
The term 'final vocabulary', introduced by philosopher Richard Rorty, refers to the set of words that a person uses to justify their actions, their beliefs, and their life. It is 'final' not because they cannot learn new words, but because these are the core words they rely on to express their deepest convictions, hopes, and doubts. It represents the limit of their ability to explain themselves; when these words are challenged, they have no deeper, non-circular way to defend them. This vocabulary shapes a person's fundamental sense of self and their worldview.
