The History, Present Situation and Trend of Specific Topic Word List
College of Foreign Languages, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| Abstract: | As an important tool in vocabulary learning, word lists play an important role in vocabulary research. From the perspective of diachronic and synchronic, this paper comprehensively analyzes the research process, current situation and trend of word lists with specific themes, and summarizes the construction of its corpus, vocabulary screening criteria and the presentation of vocabulary. The results show that: 1) In terms of the construction of the corpus, the size of the corpus used in the construction of various thesaurus varies, but the written language corpus of the academic word list with specific topics is mostly composed of journal papers and textbooks. The topic - specific technical word list is related to manuals, reference books and other more specialized genres. 2) In terms of vocabulary selection criteria, most the academic word list with specific topics adopts frequency, range and specialized occurrence, but specialized occurrence has been questioned in recent years. The recognition methods of technical words are mostly mixed. In addition, scholars will also use criteria such as frequency and range to further select words, but the adoption of the criteria of range is also controversial. 3) In terms of the presentation of vocabulary, the academic word list with specific topics mostly uses lemma, while the technical word list mostly uses word type. The findings of this paper will provide references for ESP researchers and English teachers on the development and application of vocabulary in this subject area in their research and teaching. |
| Keywords: | Vocabulary; Word List; Topic - Specific; Word List Development |
| DOI: | 10.57237/j.ssrf.2023.03.001 |
View:
Downloads:
Received: 14 March 2023
Accepted: 12 April 2023
Published Online: 25 April 2023
Funding
| 1. | 湖南省研究生科技创新基金项目 (CX20220766) |
| 2. | 湖南省教育厅科学研究项目 (2B0236) |
References
| [1] | Nation I S P. Learning vocabulary in another language [M]. Cambridge university press, 2001. |
| [2] | 戴曼纯.论第二语言词汇习得研究 [J]. 外语教学与研究, 2000, 2: 138-144+160. |
| [3] | Cowan J R. Lexical and syntactic research for the design of EFL reading materials [J]. Tesol Quarterly, 1974: 389-399. |
| [4] | Farrell P. Vocabulary in ESP: A Lexical Analysis of the English of Electronics and a Study of Semi-technical Vocabulary [J]. Occasional paper-Centre for Language and Communication Studies, 1990 (25): 1-82. |
| [5] | Brezina V, & Gablasova D. Is there a core general vocabulary? Introducing the new general service list [J]. Applied Linguistics, 2015, 36 (1): 1–22. |
| [6] | 游金干, 何家宁. 通用学术词表的对比研究——选词、评估和分级标准 [J]. 山东外语教学, 2016, 37 (6): 50-58. |
| [7] | Xue G, Nation I S P. A university word list [J]. Language learning and communication, 1984, 3 (2): 215-229. |
| [8] | Coxhead A. A new academic word list [J]. TESOL quarterly, 2000, 34 (2): 213-238. |
| [9] | Gardner D, Davies M. A new academic vocabulary list [J]. Applied linguistics, 2014, 35 (3): 305-327. |
| [10] | 孙凤兰. 国外学术英语口语词汇覆盖率最新研究述评 [J].外语研究, 2017, 34 (5): 61-65. |
| [11] | West M. A general service list of English words: with semantic frequencies and a supplementary word-list for the writing of popular science and technology [M]. Longman, 1953. |
| [12] | 刘迪麟, 雷蕾.学术词表研究综述 [J]. 外语教学, 2020, 41 (2): 34-38+50. |
| [13] | Dang T N Y, Coxhead A, Webb S. The academic spoken word list [J]. Language Learning, 2017, 67 (4): 959-997. |
| [14] | Nation I S P. Learning vocabulary in another language (3rd) [M]. Cambridge university press, 2022. |
| [15] | Hirsh D, Coxhead A. Ten ways of focussing on science-specific vocabulary in EAP classrooms [J]. English Australia Journal, 2009, 25 (1): 5-16. |
| [16] | It-ngam T, Phoocharoensil S. The development of science academic word list [J]. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 2015, 8 (3): 657-667. |
| [17] | Hyland K, Tse P. Is there an “academic vocabulary”? [J]. TESOL quarterly, 2007, 41 (2): 235-253. |
| [18] | Chirobocea O. Vocabulary acquisition in ESP: Perspectives, strategies and resources [J]. Studii şi cercetări filologice. Seria limbi străine aplicate, 2018 (17): 171-180. |
| [19] | Wang J, Liang S, Ge G. Establishment of a medical academic word list [J]. English for Specific Purposes, 2008, 27 (4): 442-458. |
| [20] | Lei L, Liu D. A new medical academic word list: A corpus-based study with enhanced methodology [J]. Journal of English for academic purposes, 2016, 22: 42-53. |
| [21] | Mungra P, Canziani T. Lexicographic studies in medicine: Academic Word List for clinical case histories [J]. Ibérica, Revista de la Asociación Europea de Lenguas para Fines Específicos, 2013 (25): 39-62. |
| [22] | Tazik K, Maniati M, Afshar M R, et al. Developing a new academic wordlist for medical purposes–a viable tool for educators [J]. GMS journal for medical education, 2022, 39 (1). |
| [23] | Fraser S. Breaking down the divisions between general, academic, and technical vocabulary: The establishment of a single, discipline-based word list for ESP learners [J]. Hiroshima Studies in Language and Language Education, 2009, 12: 151-167. |
| [24] | Minshall D E. A computer science word list [D]. University of Swansea, 2013. |
| [25] | Roesler D. When a bug is not a bug: An introduction to the computer science academic vocabulary list [J]. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 2021, 54: 101044. |
| [26] | Kemp J. An investigation of the vocabulary representative of postgraduate International Law texts [D]. |
| [27] | Mudraya O. Engineering English: A lexical frequency instructional model [J]. English for Specific Purposes, 2006, 25 (2): 235-256. |
| [28] | Ward J. A basic engineering English word list for less proficient foundation engineering undergraduates [J]. English for specific purposes, 2009, 28 (3): 170-182. |
| [29] | Hsu W. Measuring the vocabulary load of engineering textbooks for EFL undergraduates [J]. English for Specific Purposes, 2014, 33: 54-65. |
| [30] | Todd R W. An opaque engineering word list: Which words should a teacher focus on? [J]. English for Specific Purposes, 2017, 45: 31-39. |
| [31] | Veenstra J, Sato Y. Creating an institution-specific science and engineering academic word list for university students [J]. Journal of Asia TEFL, 2018, 15 (1): 148. |
| [32] | 常乐, 吴明海, 陈颖.基于语料库的机械工程学术词汇表创建研究 [J].语料库语言学, 2022, 9 (1): 150-160. |
| [33] | Liu J, Han L. A corpus-based environmental academic word list building and its validity test [J]. English for Specific Purposes, 2015, 39: 1-11. |
| [34] | Valipouri L, Nassaji H. A corpus-based study of academic vocabulary in chemistry research articles [J]. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 2013, 12 (4): 248-263. |
| [35] | Yang M N. A nursing academic word list [J]. English for specific purposes, 2015, 37: 27-38. |
| [36] | Ohashi Y, Katagiri N, Oka K, et al. ESP corpus design: compilation of the Veterinary Nursing Medical Chart Corpus and the Veterinary Nursing Wordlist [J]. Corpora, 2020, 15 (2): 125-140. |
| [37] | Khani R, Tazik K. Towards the development of an academic word list for applied linguistics research articles [J]. RELC journal, 2013, 44 (2): 209-232. |
| [38] | Vongpumivitch V, Huang J, Chang Y C. Frequency analysis of the words in the Academic Word List (AWL) and non-AWL content words in applied linguistics research papers [J]. English for Specific Purposes, 2009, 28 (1): 33-41. |
| [39] | Moini R, Islamizadeh Z. Do we need discipline-specific academic word lists? Linguistics academic word list (LAWL) [J]. Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly (Formerly Journal of Teaching Language Skills), 2016, 35 (3): 65-90. |
| [40] | 刘宇红, 殷铭.语言学语域的学术词汇表与术语词汇表 [J].中国科技术语, 2022, 24 (2): 47-54. |
| [41] | Martínez I A, Beck S C, Panza C B. Academic vocabulary in agriculture research articles: A corpus-based study [J]. English for specific purposes, 2009, 28 (3): 183-198. |
| [42] | Hsu W. A business word list for prospective EFL business postgraduates [J]. The Asian ESP journal, 2011, 7 (4): 63-99. |
| [43] | O'Flynn J A. An Economics Academic Word List (EAWL): Using online resources to develop a subject-specific word list and associated teaching-learning materials [J]. Journal of Academic Language and Learning, 2019, 13 (1): A28-A87. |
| [44] | Konstantakis N. Creating a business word list for teaching business English [J]. ELIA, 7, 79-102, 2007. |
| [45] | 李琳, 李称鑫.基于语料库的常用商务英语专业词汇研究 [J]. 外语学刊, 2021 (4): 64-69. |
| [46] | Safari M. Do university students need to master the GSL and AWL words: A psychology word list [J]. Journal of Modern Research in English Language Studies, 2018, 5 (2): 101-122. |
| [47] | Khany R, Kalantari B. Accounting Academic Word List (AAWL): A Corpus-Based Study [J]. Journal of Foreign Language Teaching and Translation Studies, 2021, 6 (1): 35-58. |
| [48] | Scott M. PC analysis of key words—and key key words [J]. System, 1997, 25 (2): 233-245. |
| [49] | Nation I S P. Making and Using Word Lists for Language Learning and Testing [M]. John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2016. |
| [50] | McLean S. Evidence for the adoption of the flemma as an appropriate word counting unit [J]. Applied Linguistics, 2018, 39 (6): 823-845. |
| [51] | Stoeckel T, Ishii T, Bennett P. Is the lemma more appropriate than the flemma as a word counting unit? [J]. Applied Linguistics, 2020, 41 (4): 601-606. |
| [52] | Dang T N Y. Investigating vocabulary in academic spoken English: Corpora, teachers, and learners [D]. Victory University of Wellington, New Zealand, 2017. |
| [53] | 王笑然, 王佶旻.经贸类本科专业学术汉语词表研究 [J].语言教学与研究, 2022 (4): 9-19. |
| [54] | Nagy W E, Anderson R C. How many words are there in printed school English? [J]. Reading research quarterly, 1984: 304-330. |
| [55] | Ardasheva Y, Tretter T R. Developing science-specific, technical vocabulary of high school newcomer English learners [J]. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 2015. |
| [56] | Quero B. Estimating the vocabulary size of L1 Spanish ESP learners and the vocabulary load of medical textbooks [D]. Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, 2015. |
| [57] | Cailing L. Investigating knowledge and use of technical vocabulary in Traditional Chinese Medicine [D]. 2018. |
| [58] | Mukundan J, Jin N Y. Development of a technical nursing education word list (NEWL) [J]. International Journal of Innovation in English Language Teaching and Research, 2012, 1 (2): 105. |
| [59] | Coxhead A, Demecheleer M, McLaughlin E. The technical vocabulary of Carpentry: Loads, lists and bearings [J]. TESOLANZ Journal, 2016, 24: 38-71. |
| [60] | Coxhead A, Demecheleer M. Investigating the technical vocabulary of plumbing [J]. English for Specific Purposes, 2018, 51: 84-97. |
| [61] | Tongpoon-Patanasorn A. Developing a frequent technical words list for finance: A hybrid approach [J]. English for Specific Purposes, 2018, 51: 45-54. |
| [62] | Chen H, Lei G. Developing a Technical Words List for Research Articles in Computer Science Discipline [J]. English Language Teaching, 2019, 12 (10): 131-141. |
| [63] | Chung T M, Nation P. Identifying technical vocabulary [J]. System, 2004, 32 (2): 251-263. |
| [64] | Oh J H, Lee J, Lee K S, et al. Japanese term extraction using dictionary hierarchy and machine translation system [J]. Terminology. International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Issues in Specialized Communication, 2000, 6 (2): 287-311. |
| [65] | Flowerdew J. Definitions in science lectures [J]. Applied linguistics, 1992, 13 (2): 202-221. |
| [66] | Kwary D A. A hybrid method for determining technical vocabulary [J]. System, 2011, 39 (2): 175-185. |
| [67] | Periñán-Pascual C, Mestre-Mestre E M. DEXTER: automatic extraction of domain-specific glossaries for language teaching [J]. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2015, 198: 377-385. |
| [68] | Nazar R. Distributional analysis applied to terminology extraction [J]. Terminology, 2016, 22 (2): 141-170. |
| [69] | Rungrueang T, Boonprasert P, Poempongsajaroen S, et al. Corpus-based approach to generate a word list for food service [J]. THAITESOL Journal, 2022, 35 (1): 57-76. |
| [70] | Coxhead A, Parkinson J, Tu'amoheloa F. Using Talanoa to develop bilingual word lists of technical vocabulary in the trades [J]. International journal of bilingual education and bilingualism, 2020, 23 (5): 513-533. |
| [71] | Kamrotov M, Talalakina E, Stukal D. Technical vocabulary in languages for special purposes: The corpus-based Russian economics word list [J]. Lingua, 2022, 273: 103326. |
| [72] | Benson S, Coxhead A. Technical single and multiword unit vocabulary in spoken rugby discourse [J]. English for Specific Purposes, 2022, 66: 111-130. |
| [73] | Schmitt N, Meara P. Researching vocabulary through a word knowledge framework: Word associations and verbal suffixes [J]. Studies in second language acquisition, 1997, 19 (1): 17-36. |
Join the Editorial Board
We invite active, qualified and high profile scientists and researchers to join as Editorial Board Members.
Join UsBecome a Reviewer
Scholars with a strong interest in reviewing are invited to join the reviewer panel to ensure the quality of the research to be published.
Join Us